Inaugural Ball At The Surrey Masonic Hall .

Company , obtained permission for the members of thc Order to appear in Masonic costume , which gave great effect and eeJat- to thc assembly . Bro . D . Godfrey ' s band was in attendance and performed some choice music , Bro . John Jarvis proving himself an able Master of the Ceremonies . Suuper was supplied about one o ' clock in the rooms

adjoining the hall . The usual toasts were given and duly responded to . During the evening ths following Inaugural Ode , on the completion of the Surrey Masonic Hall , wiitten by Bro . Samuel Poynter , P . M . 902 and 1491 , barrister-at-law , was delivered by Bro . Dawson in a very able manner .

ODE . " And the house , when it was in buiMing " , was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither ; so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard m thc house , while it was in building . "—1 Kings , VI ., v . 7 . "An house not made with hands . "—II . Cor ., V ., v . 1 .

In Israel's holy city , when tne word Went forth to build a Temple to the Lord , Thc pious prince , who swayed thc sceptre then , —• Wisest alike of monarchs and of men , — Inspired by zeal , by light divine illumed , To give command unparalleled presumed . "The fane we build "—so mused his mighty

mind" Is for no earthly potentate designed ; " For human ruler , howsoever great , " Whate ' cr the pomp , the pageantry , the state , " His throne surround , how loud soe'er th' acclaim " With which the sycophantic shout his name , — " Let mortal hands with lusty strokes attest " A mortal ' s lodging ' tis they build at best ' .

" The maul for luxury ' s use now deftly plied " Shall ring on nails that clinch the coffin ' s side ; " The pick that cleaves thc earth to found the throne " Breaks up thc ground beneath the cold grave stone ; " Each sound of toil that jars on royalty ' s car

" Proclaims that e ' en to monarchs eieath is near ! " E ' en as at Pharaoh ' a feasts , o ' er pomp and power , "Thc grisly , grinning , skeleton would toiver , * " So , as the sumptuous palace stone by stone " Rises in beauty , rings the dirge-like tone , — " ' Whomsoe ' er thou art for whom these toilers ply ,

" ' Thou shar ' st their lot in this—thou too must die !' " Not so that Being "—thus thc king ' s thoughts ran , " For whom this regal edifice we plan ; " How grand soe'er , yet all too mean for One " Whose Temple is the Universe alone , — " Ruler of all , e ' en of the gruesome king ;

" Cedes grave no vict'ry , knows in death no sting ! " Let then no harsh discordant noises break " The solemn silence in thc house we make ; " No stroke disturb , or clang of tool dispel , " The stillness where we pray our God to divell ! " The king decreed , and wond'ring Israel viewed The logs well shaped , thc ashlars squared where hewed ,

In forest and in ejuarry , leagues away From that all hallow'd site , where , day by day , Conveyed by tedious toil o ' er sea and land , All ready fashioned to the builder ' s hanel , The precious freig ht airived ; and fingers skilled The pieces fitted—and , with rev ' rence filled , The Jewish people saw before them rise

Thc stately fabric—mounting to the skies ; The worlel ' s new wonder growing—tower by tower—In symmetry anel silence hour by hour ! So the first Temple sprung—how changed thc tone Upon that spot , when , ruincet and o ' erthrown , The pious builders of the second sought The ancient glory to restore—and wrought

With sturdy arm ;;—ihe hammer swinging high , Trowel anil pick in hand , but sword on thigh ! Thus to all time they thc example set That lawless violence must by force be met , Proclaiming in thc patriot ' s loftiest strain What toil produces valour must maintain ' . Shall these great lessons of time passeel away

Be told in dull , deaf , nay , elead , ears to-day ? Shall we , whom God has blessed with peace and means , With sceptic sneer turn fiom these old-world scenes ? Or read with pride that goes before a fall The unregarded writing on th" wall ? Not so ! The Temple that the \ : is-- king planned , Too great almost for work ef human hanel ,

So grand , so glorious , that it seemed to grow By nature ' s process from the earth below , We builders speculative , in our state Of moital sojourn , strive to imitate . Ah ! would our skill could from the world around All evil banish , as metallic sound Was stilleel within the Temple ' s gorgeous walls !

But here sin ' s ringing conflict still appals ; Yet work we on , our house the human soul ; The sounds wc seek to banish or control Are vice ' s promptings , passion ' s fierce appeal ; Or avarice hamm ' ring tender hearts to steel ; These sounds discordant silenced , we coulel hear The " still small voice" that whispers " Peace is here !"

Nor yet alone the earlier I emple s rise Exhausts the lesson Holy Writ supplies ; The careless and indifferent may cease . To heed the conscience , and may call that peace ; But lethargy , like this , so dense and deep ,

Is , as to peace , as death is unto sleep . Be ours , while silencing thc angry din Of raging passions jarring all within The human temple—ever to incline Our mental ears unto the voice Divine ! And , as the builders , when they sought to raise * An allusion to the well-known traditionary custom at Egyptian banquets .

Inaugural Ball At The Surrey Masonic Hall .

Again thc Temple to Jehovah ' s praise , Toiled with their hands , but carried at their side The sword to guard the work their skill supplied , We , too , must learn , when right ' s by force withstood , Like men to 'quit us for the common good ! Thc common gojd ! Our revels here to-night Remind us of an enemy to fi * ht .

Grim foes we Masons face ; the strife we ' ll win Is waged with want , with ignorance , with sin ! Whom threaten they ? Hark ! where in yonder walls The tiny foot of blooming girlhood falls . Our Brethren's orphans ! Brethren whom hard care Their feet through life kept ou thc dark ' ned square . Poor girls . ' Ye gentle fair , whose witching eyes

To-night our festal scene ' s chief charm supplies , From joyful thoughts with which your bosoms glow , One warm pulsation of your hearts bestow In gentle sympathy with this our aim , In sanctioning the privilege we claim To succour those for whom to-night we plead—Our orphan sisters—in their hour of need !

Hold ! I have said enough . You'll say there ' s quite Sufficient moralising for one night . All harsh , discordant noises from this scene Be banished now ; while tranquil and serene , Sole interruption of the stillness round , Shall be sweet music ' s j ly-inspiring sound ; Tiie only strokes upon our ears to beat ,

I he joyous pattering of youthful feet , Threading the circling maze ; and if , by chance , Some cheery voices break the pleasant trance , The heartfelt wishes ou our cars will fall Affection's welcome—warm good-will to all . SUCCESS to this our roof , and , to have done , As Tiny Tim says , " God bless evcrv one !"

Visit Of The Provincial Grand Lodge Of Derbyshire To The Phœnix Lodge Of St. Ann, Buxton, No. 1235.

VISIT OF THE PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF DERBYSHIRE TO THE PH ? NIX LODGE OF ST . ANN , BUXTON , No . 1235 .

Thc Phoenix Lodge eif St . Ann , Buxton , was on thc 16 th inst . honoureet feir the first time by the visit of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Derbyshire , with liro . II . C . Okeover , R . W . P . G . W . of F . nglaad , D . P . G . M . Lodge was

opened in the Court House at 1 . 30 p . m . by Bro . a . C . Milligan , W . M . of tile Pluvnit , anel after th : transaction of the usual business of the iodge the arrival of the Provincial Grand Lodge was announced . There was a very large attendance , thc Comt House being so well filled that the gathering of so many distinguished Masons had a very imposing effect . The meeting was a very

satisfactory one , and several suggestions in connection with the charities ami the Freemasonry cf the province were discussed in a manner which will doubtless bear good fruit . After the lodge had been clos'il with f'C usual impressive ceicmonies , thc numerous brethren adjourned to thc Palace Hotel , where tables , decorated with thc choicest flowers from Chatsuorth through the

kindness e : f the Marquis of Hartington , P . G . M ., had been spread for a sumptuous banquet . At erne cnel of the rroni , also , was a line acacia from thc conservatory of Bro . U . H . Duke . A photograph of the . artistically laid tables was taken by Mr . Hobiss , of the Market Place . Bro . E .

C . Milligan . W . M . of the Phoenix , presided , supported bv Bro . IT . C . Okeover , D . P . G . M ., and Bro W . Smith , l . P . M . of thc Phrenix ; and the Rev . A . A . Bagshawe , M . A ., P . P . S . G . W ., and l' . P . C . C , Chaplain , said ' grace . The menu was served " a la Russe , " and in ruch a manner that it eliciti-el from the . D . P . G . M . Ihp remark that '' it was the most

elegant banquet he had ever seen . " After dinner thc following toasts were submitted , and honoured in the usual loyal and Masonic manner , the presiding W . M . performing his arduous duties admirably : — ' The Queen and Freemasonry , " "H . R . H . the Piince of V ; , iles . G . M . of England ; the Princess of Wales ; and the It ( iv al Family ; " "Bro . the Eail of Carnarvon , acting

G . M . ; anil the Grand Lodge of England ; " Bro . thc Marijiiis of H . artiiigdon , R . W . P . G . M . ;' ' ' " II . C . Okeover , Esip , R . W . D . P . G . M . ; anil th " . Officers of Prov . Grand ! 1 eige , Past nnd Present ; " " The Phei-nix Lodge of St . Ann ; " "The Visitors ; " "Thc Charities ;"" Tylei ' s T oast . " Altogether it was a most enjoyable elay , and thc

brethren of Provincial Grand Lodge expressed their satisfaction again and again ; anil hopes were entertained that , though it was the first , it would probably not be the last visit of Provincial Grand Lodge . Amongst tli-jse present at the lodge and at the banquet were the following ( but the list is not complete in consequence of many eif the brethren omitting to enter their

names in the Tyler ' s book ) : —Bros . E . C . Milligan , W . M . Phoenix Lodge of St . Ann , 1213 ; ' {( - ' v- A . A . Bagshawe , Chaplain , P . M ., P . P . S . G . W ., ' P . P . Ch ., kc . ; VV . Smith , l . P . M ., - & c ; R . Duke , P . M ., P . P . G . J . D . ; Josiah Taylor , P . M ., P . P . Std . B . ; F . Turner , P . M ., P . P . S . D . ; G . J . Sykes , S . W . ; J . II . Lawson , J . W . ; W . D . Sutton , Treas . ; C . Adams , Sec . ; P . Le Gros , S . D . ; VV . Bouglien , J . D . ;

G . Marsden , P . G . O . ; C . Wilkinson , I . G . ; G . Gooeiwin , Stwel . ; C . Gwinncll , Stwd . ; T . Bragg , P . M . 74 , 1016 , P . Z . 74 , P . P . G . S . D . Warwick ; W . C . Moore , G . 1 ' . Barnard , Joseph Mortin , j . C . Bates , ami others . The visitors in . eluded the following brethren : —11 . C . Okeover , R . W . P . G . W . and D . P . G . M . j R . Darwin , P . P . G . W ., P . M . 6 . 154 ; T . Cox , P . M ., P . P . S . G . W ., P . G . T ., Sec . ; J . Casson , P . P . G . O . ; G . K .. Baines , S . W , 1 . 19 ^ ; T . Bramwcll , S . W .

054 ; W . Loinas , W . M . SS 4 ; 1 . Parker , 1495 ; W . Sperry , 1495 ; T . Cox , P . P . S . G . W ., P . M . 2 ; i , S . Pipes , W . M . 10 K 5 ; VV . W . Jeudwinc , J . W . 081 ; * C . Busby , I . G . 081 ; W . Chippendale , 44 ; VV . L . Barrow , S . 1495 ; —Grindrod , G 54 ; J- W . Wright , 1 , G . 654 ; T . Hibbert , 654 ; J . Hawthorn , 6 54 ; W . Piatt , 6 54 ; J . I'latt , 654 : J . Wyatt , 6 54 ; C . Bennett , 6 54 ; J . D . Simpson , O 54 ; S . W . Ready , P . M . O 54 ; W . Bembridge ; C . Wright , 884 ; John J . Bingham

Visit Of The Provincial Grand Lodge Of Derbyshire To The Phœnix Lodge Of St. Ann, Buxton, No. 1235.

W . M , i 2 S ; T . Horsley , P . P . S . G . W . 253 ; T . Slinn , P . G Tyler ; T . Wright , W . M . 6 54 ; and othirs .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Lancashire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WEST LANCASHIRE .

An especial Provincial Grand Lodge of the Western Division of thc county of Lancashire was held at the Masonic Hall , Hope-street , on Tuesday , the 18 th inst ., for thc purpose of taking into consideration a letter which had been received from thc Rev . IS . Deacle , precentor of Chester

Cathedral , with regard to the proposed contribution by the Freemasons of West Lancashire towards thc restoration of Chester Cathedral . Bro . the Right Hon . Lord Skelmersdale , D . G . M . England , R . W . P . G . M . West Lancashire , was pre « ent , and accepted the place of honour at the proceedings . Amongst the others present were Bros . A . C . Dceley , P . Q . J . W . ; Dr . J . K . Smith , P . G . Reg . ; T .

Armstrong , P . G . Treas . ; H . S . Alpass , P . G . Sec . ; J . F . Goggin , P . P . G . Chap . ; R . Wilson , P . P . G . S . D . ; T . Wylie , P . P . G . Reg . ; R . Wylie , P . P . G . J . D . ; W . J . Turley , P . P . G . J . D . ; J . R . Goepel , P . P . G . D . C . ; J . Lunt , P . G . D . C . ; G . Broadbrielgc , P . P . G . D . C ; J . Skeag , P . G . O . ; S . E . Ibbs , P . P . G . S . B . ; J . Bell , W . M . 135 G ; R . Brown , W . M . 241 , Hon . Sec . West Lancashire Masonic Educational

Institution ; J . Wood , Treas . 1094 ( "Freemason" ); J . W J . Fowler , P . P . G . A . D . C . ; W . [ ohnson , 241 ; 1- Moulding , J . W . S 23 : W . Healing , W . M . 1094 ; W . S . Vines , P . M . 220 ; J . H . McQuistan . 241 ; S . J . McGeorge , P . M ., Treas . 241 ; H . Liversage , 1299 ; R . Bennett , W . M . 1299 ; A . Jones , J . W . 1 ^ 02 ; f . T . Callow , W . M . 1505 ; H . Nelson , P . M . 1503 ; T . Clark , P . M . 673 ; J . Hock ' en , P . M ., Treas .

673 ; Dr . F . J . Bailey , 786 ; IT . Ashmorc , W . M . 1325 ; G . Turner , P . M . S 23 ; R . Young , P . M . 86 ; VV . fyrer , W . M . 86 ; H . Vaughan , J . W . 86 ; J . A . Edginton , P . M . 1182 ; P . E . Gee , W . M . 1264 ; J . Higson Johnson , P . M . 1350 ; A . Woolrich , S . D . 135 6 , & c . The P . G . M . saiel it would be remembered that at the last P . G . Lodge meeting a letter was read from the Rev .

Mr . Deacle with reference to the restoration of Chester Cathedral , but it was then thought advisable to postpone the consideration of thc matter , as the brethren wcre then engaged in raising funds for thc Benevolent Institution . He then took it upon him to say that the brethren would raise money for the purpose of helping on the restoration , and he had promised that their gift would take the form of a

scdilia , which he thought would be a much more appropriate gift to come from Freemasons than either a pavement or coronna , thc other gifts which had been named by Mr . Deacle in his letter . I le now asked the brethren to give him their e . pinion on the subject , and say what they thought the P . G . Loelge should do in connection with the matter .

Bro . R . Wylie , P . P . J . G . D ., now moved that the sum of £ 100 be given towards the restoration of Chester Cathedra ! . Bro . Dce ; ley , P . G . J . W ., seconded thc motion . Bro . Brtadbrielgc ' , P . ' ' . G . D . C , said he thought they should hesitate before voting the lands of the P . G , Lodge to this purpose . They had amongst their number many

brethren who were Dissenters , Roman Catholics , and members of other persuasions , and in relation to these they stood in a very peculiar position . Moreover , they ought to remember that they had thc greatest difficulty in raising the sums required to get their children elected in connection with their institutions . Besides , he thought

that before they parted with their funds they ought at least to furnish that hall properly . In answer to a brother , thc P . G . M . said the scdilia would cost about / " 450 . A brother from Barrow also objected to the vote , remarking that the clergy of Carlisle , in which part of that province was situated , might as well ask for a similar

vote . After several other brethren had spoken for and against the proposal , Bro . T . Wylie , P . P . G . Reg ., calleel attention to the Masonic gift which had recently been made to the cathedral at Gloucester , anel urged the brethren to sec that the pledge or promise of their P . G . M . should be redeemed with

what he might call " flying colours . " Bro . IT . S . Alpass , P . G . Sec , in supporting the motion for the vote , pointed out that amongst the 4400 Freemasons in the province of West I-ancashire no fewer than 3 200 wcre resident in the diocese of Chester . With regard to thc objection raised as to the different creeds to be found in the Masonic body , be stated , as the result of a long

expenrnce , that thc clergymen of the Church of England wcre almost thc only ministers who joined the Order , a fact which he considered a complete answer to the repeated charges of irreligion which had been made against Freemasonry . When so many clergymen of the Established Church became Masons anil took part in the ceremonies of the Craft , the members of that Order could be neither

infidels nor deists , as many had alleged . They owed a debt of giatitude to thc ministers of the Church , and they could show this in some measure by their aid in this work of restoration . After Bro . R . Young , P . M . 86 , had spoken against the proposition , Bro . If . Wylie said this was not a question of religion ,

but a Masonic question , in which they were called upon to contribute to the rcstoialiem of a building in which they ought to have a special interest . The motion was carried by an overwhelming majority and it was also resolved that the P . G . M . should recon . mend thc members of private lodges within his province

to supplement the vote of the Provincial Grand Lodge . Lord Skelmersdale intimated his intention of subscribing £ 25 towards the object . After £ 55 had been voted for relief and assistance in the education of deceased Freemasons' children , the proceedings of the special meeting terminated .