Consecration Of The Hartismere Lodge, No. 1663.

, 1 ist ike . Aiuoug-t Masons , we all know everything wc ¦ , y we mean . I think it most kind of Lord Skelmersdale in come and see us to-night . 1 am sure he is heartily welcome , and we thank him for his kindness in coming here . ( Hear , hear . ) I think I miy say for other parts of the province that they also thank him for coming ¦ iniono'st us _ and are veiy pleased to welcome him in

Suffolk- And if he should think proper lo come here a <> am , I think I may promise for this lodge and the province that he will receive the heartiest welcome that we Masons can give him . ( Applause . ) The Right Woishipful the Deputy Grand Master , Lord Skelmersdale , returned thanks to Lord Henniker for having proposed his health in such kind terms , and to the

brethren tor the kind way m which they had icceived the toast . He had told them in lodge and he wished to affirm it again , that it had been to him a great pleasure to be present to consecrate the lodge and to see how heartily the uiojcct for establishing the lodge had been received by the province in general . ( Applause . ) He had enquired who the biethren present were , and he found they were from

all parts ii the county , a circumstance which convinced him , if it were necessary to be convinced , how extreme was the pleasure felt by Freemasons throughout the province in having a new lodge added to their number . ( App lause . ) It showed him that the increase in the popularity of Freemasonry was rot confined to Metropolitan and other popular districts , and that it was not the mere flash

in the pan that some people had represented the present revival of Masonry to be . Two years ago people said it was a mere flash in the pan , and would soon go down again to the usual hum-drum level , but their worthy Bro . Hervey , the Grand Secretary , would inform them that the increase in the number of lodges was steady , and that the number of Masons was increasing more and more every

year . ( Applause . ) There were now something like 1600 working lodges in the country , and the average number of each lodge ought to be between 40 aud 50 , which would g ive a very large number of Masons throughout this country . ( Applause . ) They could not but reflect what a great aud powerful body that must be , all bound together lor one or two great causes . ( Applause . ) The thought

ol it made him feci that he was not worthy of the position he held amongst so greatanumber of good men , coming forward in the ranks of Fiecmasonry to do good as God directed them . His own experience showed that every one who became a Mason gained new strength , and had reason to bless the day he became one . In conclusion , he assured the brethren that if he should be spared to pay them another

visit he should look forward to that visit with the greatest p leasure . ( Applause . ) 'The Rev . W . Page Roberts proposed the toast of " The Masonic Chaiities . " ( Applause . ) Lord Donoughmore , in the course of a humorous reply , said the rev . brother who proposed this toast in a very eloquent speech told them that he felt like a wastrel child

who had wandered from the fold of Masonry . ( Laughter . ) He was sure there was not one in that room who would not welcome his return to the lold , ( Laughter and cheers . ) It was a very difficult task for a single individual , and especially for one who had not the advantage of long expel ience—to return thanks for the great ornament of their Order—the Masonic charities . Many could look back to

the time when the yeaily subscriptions to the charities were much smaller than they were at present . Twenty years ago if anybody had been told that £ 5000 had been collected at the annual festival of the Boys' School they would have thought it a very large amount , but he asked them to look at the last two years , when the subscriptions weic respectively £ 14 , 000 and £ 13 , 000 . ( Applause . )

That extraordinary augmentation was undoubtedly due to the increase in the members and prosperity of the order ; but while the metropolis itself was a large contributor , it was found that the outlying provinces had taken such pains to put their charity schemes upon a proper footing tnat the sum which had come in from them had very largely increased . This matier of organisation was one

that had been under consideration for several years , and had been carried out wilh signal success ; and though no such organisation at present existed in this province , he understood it was in contemplation , and he hoped sincerely , for the sake of the charities , that this contemplated scheme will some time or other be carried into effect . ( Hear , hear . ) He did not like to sit down without saying a word upon

a subject not connected with the toast . 1 he present meeting was not the first Masonic experiment in which he and Lord Henniker had been associated ; and because of the great friendship he felt for him , and the interest he took in Alasonry , he wished the greatest prosperity and happiness for the new lodge that had been founded that day , ( Applause . )

The W . M . said he had next to propose a toast which was one usually known as a toast of obligation , but though it was a . toast of obligation it was one which the Masons of Suffolk always drank with the greatest enthusiasm , namely the toast of " 'The R . W . Provincial Grand Master of Suffolk , Lord Waveney . " ( Much applause . ) His Lordship had taken great interest in this lodge , and

he wrote him the kindest of kind letters the other day to express to him his regret that he could not be present ou this occasion , not only because he would like to have met the Deputy Grand Master and others , but also because he most heartily wished the " Hartismere" Lodge the greatest possible prosperity . He was sure all the Masons in Suffolk held Loid Waveney in the grcatert possible respect , and he hoped that some day or other they

might have the pleasure of entertaining him in that lodge . ( Hear , hear . ) With that toast he should couple the name of his friend the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Bro . the Rev . C J . Martyn . ( Applause . ) He had promised for a long time to be present at the consecration of this lod ge . They all knew he took intense interest in all Masonic affairs , and he was one of the most useful Masons in the country . He ( the W . M . ) had consulted

Consecration Of The Hartismere Lodge, No. 1663.

him throughout , and he had taken the greatest interest in the new lodge . There was one tie which when once broken in life could never be replaced—he referred to the loss of a parent . They all knew the respect and affection in which Bro . Martyn ' s mother was held , therefore it came home to them that night to express to him their most sincere sympathy in his great bereavement . ( Hear , hear . )

But he had not forgotten them in his grief , for since he ( the W . M . ) had been present he had received this telegram from him : — " Kindest and heartiest good vyishes to you and our good visitors , and all the brethren of the Hartismere Lodge . Please propose my name as a joining member . " ( Applause . ) He certainly should propose Bro . Martyn at the next meeting of the lodge , and he did not think he

would get black-balled . ( Laughter . ) He thought he had said enough to show the great interest the Provincial Grand Officers took in their lodge ; it was a great encouragement to the lodge that they had done so , and in the most hearty manner he begged to give the toast he had already proposed . ( Applause . ) Lord Skelmersdale proposed "The Health of the

W . M . of the Hartismere Lodge . " He did so not only as the W . M ., but as an old friend of his own . ( Applause . ) He trusted that his reign of office might be a successful one and that the lodge would have a prosperous future before it . Their W . M . was far better known to them than to these at a distance , and he would not attempt to sing his praises to them . He looked upon him as a

hearty Mason , a good brother , and a —( Lord Donoughmore * - A jolly good fellow ) . He thanked his friend for the word . There were times when he was not so glad to see his ( Lord Skelmersdale ) face as on this occasion . This might be an enigma to them , but they had no doubt heard occasionally of the word " whip . " His noble friend did not always respond to it as freely as a

good hound should , but he was sure that in future he would repay him ( Lord Skelmersdale ' s ) for coming down here , hy answering more freely to his whip . ( Laughter . ) The toast vvas received with full Masonic honours , and theW . M . in returning thanks , assured the brethren that he would do his best to attend to his Masonic duties in compliance with his friend Lord Skelmersdale , who was

a most efficient and energetic , but a most agreeable whip . Referring to Masonry iu Eye he said from some cause or ether many years ago the old lodge had been dissolved , but another had now been established , and he hoped it would increase in numbers and prosperity every year . He was happy to know that the officers were old and well-tried friends . He thanked the brethren for

being present in such large numbers , and he especially particularised Bro . Lucia , the P . G . Secretary ; Brother Clarke , their most indefatigable Director of Ceremonies , without whose aid he did not know what they should have done , as he never saw a man take so much trouble to make the whole arrangements go off properly as he had done that day —( hear , hear ); Bro . Bevan for

presiding at the organ , and all the brethren who had assisted 111 making the gathering a success . ( Hear , hear . ) Perhaps some particulars of the origin of the lodge may be interesting . It vvas originally called St . Edmund's Lodge from the fact that St . Edmund was shot at an oak at Hoxne . He acknowledged with thanks the present of the square used in the old lodge by Bro . F . Long , and also

conveyed his acknowledgments to Bro . Woolnough , the Secretary , for his excellent arrangements for the comfort of the brethren . In conclusion he expressed a determination to use his best endeavours to make this lodge compare favourably with others in the province . ( Applause . ) Lord Donoughmore proposed " Tbe Health of the Present

and Past Provincial Grand Officers of the Province , " and remarked that the very efficient assistance rendered by the P . G . officers at the lodge to-day was but a type of the assistance invariably accorded . He coupled the names of Bro . Tracy and Bro . Wright with the toast . Bros . Wright and Tracy responded . The latter said he had great pleasure in being present , not only as a past

officer , but as a member of the " Perfect Friendship '' lodge , for he believed the lodge established at Eye in 1845 was established at the recommendation of that lodge-. He trusted that the lodge established that day would have greater prosperity and a longer life than the last one . He had also pleasure in being there because many of the members of this lodge had been initiated in a lodge with which he

was closely connected , the " Phcenix , " and 111 which he had had the honour of raising some of the brethren now present . Bro . Fisher proposed " The Health of the Pro . Grand Chaplain and the Clergy of the Province , " and 'The P . G . Chaplain , in responding , expressed the great pleasure he felt , as a clergyman of the Church of England ,

in being a Mason , and 111 being present on that occasion . He thought if the principles of Masonry were better known ( they could not be known without initiation into their mysteries ) there would be a larger number of his profession amongst them . But they were forbidden to say what Masmry was , and the only way in which they could induce people to join them was to show b y their lives what their

principles were —( applause)—and then they would be able to put down calumny , and remove some of the notions that people had about them . He suggested a vote i . f thanks to Bro . Roberts , the Vicar of Kye , for the use of his church on that occasion . ( Hear hear . ) The W . M . said he had great hopes of persuading the Vicar of Eye to become Chaplain of the Hartismere Lodge . ( Applause . )

The Rev . W . P . Roberts returned thanks , and after expressing his wishes for the prosperity of the lodge , said in conclusion , " If the W . M . bids me serve him , my best services shall be at his disposal . " ( Applause . ) The W . M . next gave " The Stowmarket Lodge , " with which this lodge was closely allied , and coupled with the toast the name of Bro . Reddar , who suitably responded . The Vice-Chairman ( Bro . Cracknell ) gave " The Visiting

Consecration Of The Hartismere Lodge, No. 1663.

Brethren , " coupled with the name of Bro . Hervey , the Grand Secretary , which was drunk with full Masonic honours . Bro . Hervey , in responding , congratulated those present upon the signal success of the day ' s proceedings , the only subject of regret being the absence of the D . P . G . M ., of whom he spoke in the highest terms . Their worthy brother

hail just received the patent of the P . G . Superintendent of Suffolk , and he ventured to hope that Lord Skelmersdale would at no distant date pay another visit to Suffolk , and instal their good friend Bro . Martyn into an office which he ventured to predict he would fill most efficiently and most admirably . ( Applause . ) He announced that at the recent election of candidates for the Boys' School young

Cox , in whose case Bro . Martyn and the province Suffolk took a great interest , was successful . He thanked them for the cordial manner in which they had received the visitors , and assured them that the brethren generally looked forward to the success of the Hartismere Lodge with great anxiety and with the full assurance that its prosperity was already secured . ( Applause . )

Bro . Woolnough , after acknowled ging the great assistance the new lodge had received from Bro . W . H . Lucia , the P . G . Secretary , proposed that gentleman ' s health . Bro . Lucia briefly responded . Several other toasts were drunk , and the proceedings were throughout of a most agreeable and harmonious character .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Devonshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF DEVONSHIRE .

The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of the Mark Masons of Devon was held in the Town Hall of Tavistock . R . W . Bro . Lieut .-Colonel J . Tanner Davy , P . G . M . M ., presided . The following were also among the officers present : —W . Bros . J . E . Curties , Past G . J . D . of

England , P . P . J . G . W . ; J . T . Shapland , P . G . J . W . ; J . Matthews , P . P . G . J . W . ; the Rev . T . W . Lemon , M . A ., P . P . G . Chap . ; A . Bodley , P . P . G . J . D . ; J . Brewer , P . G . J . O . ; L . D . Westcott , P . G . Treas . ; J . B . Gover , P . P . G . T . ; S . Jew , P . P . G . T . ; E . Aitken Davies , P . P . G . J . D . ; E . Patten , P . P . G . J . D . ; J . M . Hifley , P . P . G . J . D . ; T . Dand , P . P . G . J . D . ; f . Austin , Past G . J . D . ; W . Browning , P . P . G . J . D . ; J . Y .

Avery , P . G . D . C . ; J . H . Toms , P . P . G . S . B . ; C . Croydon , P . P . S . B . ; E . J . Knight , P . P . G . S . B . ; J . H . Tonkin , P . P . G . I . of Wkf .. ; R . M . W . Webb , P . P . G . O . ; D . Cross , P . P . G . S . B . ; A . R . Ltthbridge , P . P . G . D . C . ; J . P . Phillips , P . P . G . D . C ; E . Browning , P . P . G . I . of Wks . ; G . Godtschalk , P . P . G . D . C ; J . Belling , P . G . O . ; R . Pengelly , H . Stocker , T . Searle , P . G . Stds . '; J . Rogers , P . G . T . ; Dr . H .

Woodgates , W . M . 15 ; T . B . Richards , W . M . 2- ?; Lieutenant VV . H . Jolliffe , R . N ., P . M . 107 ; Bros . H . " Horton , J . D . 50 ; VV . Allsford , J . W . 16 ; W . L . Sampson , R . M . 23 ; J . R . H . Harris , S . O . 91 ; H . Bridgman , M . O . 91 ; S . D . Nicholls , S . W . 23 ; B . B . S . Richards , J . W . 23 ; D . Stocker , J . W . i ; B . Blight , S . O . 76 ; W . Stephens , J . D .

23 ; R . J . B . Woolcock , I . G . 23 ; George H . Evans , J . O . 35 ; E . Hawke , S . W . 48 ; John Turner , M . A . 25 ; C . Rodda . O . 50 ; Elliot Square , J . O . 33 ; T . Smith , Tyler , 50 ; John Masters , 64 ; R . B . Twose , 50 ; W . Thomas , 50 ; J . D . Johnstenc , St . 23 ; E . Handy , Tyler , 23 ; J . J . Daw , S . O . 23 .

'The Secretary reported that aU the lodges in the province , with the exception of No . 26 , had made their returns ; some of which however would have to be corrected . It was with considerable regret he observed that No . 15 had lost so many names of old and valued members . The committee for procuring collars and jewels , after considerable deliberation , had decided to have them

manufactured in the province , and entrusted the same to Bro . Clemens , of No . 6 4 , and Bro . Croydon , of No . 35 , and confidently left the consideration of the articles to the judgment of those brethren . In obedience to the vote of the Provincial Grand Lodge , the Secretary had gathered all the information he could relative to the grants of money made for charitable purposes , and the result would be found ina statement sent to the members ol the Provincial Grand

Lodge with the report of the last meeting . The Treasurer reported that the provincial fees due had all been paid , and the lodge returns and dues all furnished from the various lodges . The receipts were £ 46 18 s . 4 d ., and expenditure £ 46 4 s . 6 d ., including £ 10 to the Masons' Widow ' s Fund , and £ 28 6 s . 6 d . towards the new collars provided for the P . G . Officers . There was a balance in hand of 13 s . iod . Both reports were received and adopted .

I he P . G . M . confirmed all his officers for 1876-7 in past rank , and W . Bros . S . Jew , J . B . Gover , L . D . Westcott , and C . Godtschalk were appointed unanimously the Board of General Purposes . Bro . B . R . Twose was elected the 'Treasurer for the ensuing year , and the following brothers were invested as officers : —V . W . Bro . the Rev . P . H . Newnham , 35 ( re-appointed ) , D . P . G . M . ; Dr . H . Woodgates ,

15 , P . G . S . W . ; W . Bros . Lieut , the Hon . W . H . Jolliffe , 107 , P . G . J . W . ; J . B . Gover , o , P . G . M . O . ; J . Galliford , 9 , P . G . S . O . ; T . B . Richards , 23 , P . G . J . O . ; the Rev . T . King , vicar of South Molton , 9 ( re-appointed ) , P . G . Hiap . ; K . B . Twose , P . G . Treas . ; V . Bird ( re-appointed ) , P . G . Sec . ; H . W . 'Thomas , 66 , P . G . S . D . ; S . R . Annis , 76 , P . G . J . D . ; J . Godfrey Evans , 35 , P . G . D . C . ; R . Bli g ht ,

7 6 , P . G . A . D . C ; John Masters , 64 , P . G . of Wks . ; W . Allsford , 16 , P . G . S . B . ; R . G . Bird , 50 , P . G . O . ; R . Pengelley , 50 , P . G . St . 3 . ; T . Searle , P . G . Purs .-, H . Stocker 15 , E . Hawke , 48 , and J . H . Stephens , 48 , P . G . Stds . ; and J . Rogers , P . G . Tyler .

On the proposition of W . Bro . Godtschalk , seconded b W . Bro . J . T . Shap l and , R . W . Bro . Lieut .-Col . J . Tanner Davy was unanimously re-elected for the office of P . G . M . M . for the province for the ensuing term . In the evening a large party of the brethren dined gether at the Bedford Hotel .