Provincial Grand Lodge Of Leicestershire And Rutland.

In exercise of the privilege granted by H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., to Prov . Grand Masters of conferring Past Prov . Grand Lodge Rank on a limited number of brethren in commemoration of the Jubilee of the reign of her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen , the R . W . Prov . Grand Master conferred Past Rank on the following brethren ; Bro . the Rev . C . Henton Wood , M . A ., P . P . G . Chap ., Prov . G . Sec , as P . P . S . G . W . ; and Bro . William Keep , P . M . 1265 , P . P . G . S . B ., as P . P . J . G . W .

On the motion of Bro . M . J . WALKER , P . P . J . G . W ., seconded by Bro . KELLY , P . P . G . M ., Bro . Partridge , D . P . G . M ., was appointed as Steward to represent Prov . Grand Lodge at the next Festival of the Girls' School . In thanking the brethren for their kindness , the D . P . G . M . made an earnest appeal for support in his Stewardship on so important an occasion as the Centenary Festival , and gave some interesting details with reference to the schemes proposed for celebrating that event .

The next business on the agenda was to present to the Deputy Prov . Grand Master , Bro . S . S . Partridge , P . A . G . D . of C , full dress clothing and jewels suitable to his rank in Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter , subscribed for by the brethren of the province . The presentation was made by Bro . KELLY , P . P . G . M ., who said that a very pleasing , but at the same time quite unexpected duty , and one for which he was wholly unprepared , had devolved

upon him , owing to the absence ot their Prov . Grand Master , Lord Ferrers , who had telegraphed almost at the last moment that he was unable to attend . It was fortunate , however , that but few words of explanation were needed from him , as the circumstances of the case were fully described in the Report of the Committee of General Purposes just presented . The rank of P . A . G . D . of C . which it had pleased the Most Worshipful Grand

Master , at the Jubilee Meeting , at the Albert Hall , to confer upon their worthy Bro . Partridge , was not only a great honour to their D . P . G . M ., but also , through him , to their province , whose representative he was . _ Bro . Kelly expressed his conviction that the services which Bro . Partridge had rendered , not only in the Craft Lodges , but more especially in the important office of Prov . Grand Secretary and D . P . G . M ., which he

had held in the Provincial Grand Lodge , were so great and so efficiently performed , that the brethren would unanimously agree with him that no more worthy brother could have been selected to receive Grand Lodge rank at the hands of the Grand Master on that ever memorable occasion at the Albert Hall in celebration of her Majesty ' s Jubilee . The distinction thus conferred on their D . P . G . M . was the more marked and gratifying , inasmuch

as , curiously enough , it was only the second instance in which any Leicestershire Mason ( as such ) had ever been appointed to office in the Grand Lodge of England—the other being their worthy and esteemed Bro . George Toller , Bro . Partridge ' s predecessor in the offices of Prov . G . Secretary and D . P . G . M ., who some years ago was appointed Grand Sword Bearer . It was true that two of their former P . G . M . ' s , Sir F . G . Fowke , Bart ., and his successor

the first Earl Howe , had held office in Grand Lodge , the former as Senior Grand Warden , and the latter , for some years , as Deputy Grand Master , but Sir Frederick held the distinguished position of Deputy Master of the Prince of Wales ' s Lodge , under the Duke of York ; and his lordship was Lord Chamberlain to Queen Adelaide , and was well known and esteemed in Court circles in town . It was to be hoped that in future years , although

their province was a small one , it would not be left so much in the shade as it had been with respect to Grand Lodge honours . Bro . Kelly then informed the D . P . G . M . that no sooner had this honour conferred by the Prince of Wales became known than it was determined to open a subscription in the province to provide a complete set of the undress and the full dress clothing and jewel of his rank for presentation to VV . Bro . Partridge , but the brethren

of his mother lodge , the John of Gaunt , No . 523 , being anxious to take a special part in this gift , it was arranged that the lodge should provide the set of undress clothing which was presented to their distinguished brother at the last meeting of the lodge . A subscription , limited to a very small sum individually , had been started , and so rapidly and spontaneously did the names and subscriptions pour in , that not only was the sum required soon raised , but was considerably exceeded , and it was finally arranged not

only to present the full-dress suit and jewel of Grand Lodge , but , in addition , the full-dress clothing and jewel of the rank conferred in Grand Chapter . Bro . Kelly having asked Bro . Partridge ' s acceptance of the offering of the brethren of the province , together with their best wishes that he might long be spared to wear it , proceeded to invest him wilh the Grand Lodge clothing and jewel amidst the hearty applause of the large assemblage of brethren .

The clothing was richly embroidered and the jewel ( of 18 carat gold ) bore the following inscription : " This jewel , together with the dress clothing of his rank , was presented to VVorshipful Bro . S . S . Partridge , Deputy Provincial Grand Master , by the Freemasons of the Province of Leicestershire and Rutland upon his appointment as Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies of the Grand Lodge of England , and as a mark of their great esteem and regard for him . October , 1887 . "

Bro . PARTRIDGE , in returning thanks , spoke of the difficulty he felt in finding words sufficientl y adequate to express his feelings of gratitude for the very valuable present which it had pleased the brethren to bestow upon him . To have received the coveted distinction of rank in Grand Lodge was an honour he had little thought of , and coming so unexpectedly and on such an important occasion as the Jubilee of Her Most Gracious Majesty ,

and also receiving the distinction at the hands of the M . W . G . M . himself , rendered it infinitely more valuable , but the chief interest in that event was , and always would be , associated in his mind with the handsome way in which the brethren of the province had been kind enough to recognise the appointment by the costly gift of which he was now made the recipient ; their kindness and esteem being the more marked as he had already on

more than one occasion been thought worthy of special and substantial recognition , notably some eight years ago , when he received from the brethren the very beautiful and costl y wedding present which he and his wife prized so highly . The distinction conferred on him he felt was not by any means a personal one , and he fully endorsed Bro . Kelly ' s remarks as lo the appointment

being more especially intended as a recognition of the province itself . In conclusion , Bro . Partridge expressed his grateful acknowledgments of the many fraternal congratulations he had received , and referred with thanks to the special interest which he understood had been taken by Bros . M . J . Walker and R . Waite , in connection with the arrangement for the presentation .

An invitation was offered by Bro . W . H . Goodwin , W . M ., to hold the next meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge under the banner of the Vale of Catmos Lodge , No . 1265 , Oakham , which the D . P . G . M . promised to submit to the R . W . P . G . M . for consideration . The Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed in form , and the usual banquet followed .

Consecration Of Horsa Lodge, No. 2208, Bournemouth.

CONSECRATION OF HORSA LODGE , No . 2208 , BOURNEMOUTH .

The Province of Hampshire and Isle of Wight is steadily increasing , and still another lodge was added to its numbers on Tuesday , the 18 th inst ., when the Dep . Prov . G . M ., VV . Bro . J . E . Le Feuvre , P . G . D . of England , most ably , efficiently , and impressively performed the consecrating cere-: mony , in the absence of the R . W . P . G . M ., Hon . Bro . VV . VV . B . Beach , M . P ., who was unavoidably absent in consequence of his having to attend the Mansion House to meet the Dep . Grand Master and Grand Lodge Officers . The absence of Bro . Beach fro-n such a Masonic function in his

province is most exceptionally rare , and this occasion was the first his Deputy had performed any ceremony of its kind since his appointment , and the way in which he acquitted himself won the admiration and applause of all who attended . The Masonic Hall , Bournemouth , situated in St . Michael's Rose , is well provided with furniture , and , in addition to the ordinary , a pair of very

handsome columns was presented to the new lodge by Bro . J . H . Moore , who , with Bros . H . N . Jenkins , 195 ; F . Holland , 622 ; E . W . Cross , 195 ; J . B . Atkinson , P . M . 195 , P . P . J . G . D . ; J . McWilliam , P . M . 195 , P . P . G . P . Hants and Isle of Wight ; E . Worth , P . M . 195 ; F . Budden , 195 , P . M . 622 , P . G . D . C . Dorset ; D . VVilliams , P . M . 686 , 1308 , P . P . S . G . W . Bristol ; C . Waters , 195 ; and J . J . Brazill , 195 , are the founders .

The lodge was opened by the W . Dep . Prov . Grand Master , assisted by Bros . T . R . VVilliams , P . S . G . W . ; G . F . W . Mortimer , P . J . G . W . ; Rev . J . C . Wilton , P . G . Chap . ; E . Goble , P . G . Swd . Br . Eng ., P . G . Sec . ; VV . Berry , P . G . D . C ; R . Glasspool , P . G . Swd . Br . ; and W . Townsend , acting P . G . Org .

Tliere were also present—Bros . VV . J . Van Marie , W . M . ; J . Webber , S . VV . ; A . W . Ward , Sec . ; G . H . Rolls , J . D . ; W . Farrance , P . M ., P . P . G . Std . Br . ; C . W . Brooke , J . Artin , E . J . Kingham , H . G . Knight , E . G . Down , S . B . Morse , F . Walden , and C . Curtis , 132 ; J . Shemmonds , W . M . ; C . T . Miles , I . P . M . ; W . Woodhouse , I . W . ; H . J . Atkins , P . M ., P . P . S . G . W . Norths and Hunts ; W . B . Rogers , P . M ., P . P . G . Reg . ; J . Druitt , iun ., P . M ., P . P . S . G . W . ; J . Harvey , P . M . ; C W . Wyatt , S . W . ; C . W . K « ep , J . D . ;

J . A . Nethercote , Stwd . ; R . Hodges , S . D . ; VV . H . Miles , F . Mapp , C Dacre , W . Townsend , Org . ; W . Dunn , A . Redfern , T . H . Sedgwater , E . Barnes , and VV . Alex * , ander , 195 ; H . H . Cooper , 1112 ; M . A . Cockcraft , 1903 ; and P . H . Emanuel , 206 S . Visitors to the province were Bros . Rev . Mortimer Heatn , 622 , P . G . Chap , of Eng . ; J . Mcrrell , P . M . m , P . P . S . G . W . Durham ; C Woodford , J . W . ; Tarrant , F . A . Sharp , S . W ., and J . Smith , 137 ; P . Harris , P . M ., and G . Dowson , J . D ., 187 ; H . Budden , 3 S 6 ; A . Budden , and W . VV . Baker , 622 ; A . T . Trehearne , S . D . 657 ; H . W . Daiwood , P . M . S 60 and 1589 ; G . Cross , 116 S ; and G . W . Price 16 S 1 .

, The brethren having assembled in the lodge room , a processional march was played by Bro . Townsend , and the Prov . Grand Officers entered and took their respective chairs . The lodge was opened , and the D . P . G . M ., Bro . J . E . Le Feuvre , Bro . Mortimer Heath , Grand Chaplain of England , and Bro . Goble , P . G . Sword Bearer of England , were saluted according to ancient form .

The DEPUTY PROV . GRAND MASTER , addressing the brethren on the nature of the meeting , expressed regret at the absence of the Prov . Grand Master owing to his having to attend the Mansion House to meet the Dep . Grand Master , Bro . the Earl of Lathom . He ( Bro . Le Feuvre ) in his absence , would do his best to officiate tor him . That day was one of the exceptionally few occasions he , as D . P . G . M ., bad the opportunity of

performing any such Masonic ritual , a ceremony he could not impress too much upon the brethren . That neighbourhood possessed two lodges , and another ( Boscombe ) was near . He trusted that the lodges would after that day continue , as heretofore , to proceed harmoniously and have only one object in view , to vie with each other in promoting the general tenets of the Order . Freemasons' lodges , in olden times , were dedicated to Masonry , virtue , and

universal benevolence . Now they were dedicated to God and His services . They challenged their foreign brethren in that , especially those in France , who abolished the necessary belief of God in their lodges . He hoped that what was done that day would be dedicated to God . Could they do better ? All their acts in every Degree were devoted to thejjGreat Architect of the Universe , and the Most High . Was it not , therefore , desirable to

sometimes think they were addressing the Most High ? ( Applause . ) Might he take that opportunity of suggesting that they should think , on entering the portals of the lodge , a little more that all their acts and deeds were devoted to His glory . He hoped the constitution of the lodge would have a beneficial effect on the brethren in Bournemouth . Bro . Le Feuvre cautioned the members of the Horsa Lodge to secure quality , and not be too eager for quantity in securing members , and appealed

to them to disestablish the use ot black-balling by intimating to the W . M . or proposer of a member that the person proposed would not be elected , and that intimation to be held in strict Masonic confidence . ( Applause . ) He concluded by congratulating the brethren upon the day ' s proceedings , and expressed a hope it would be the establishment of a happy band of brethren working harmoniously together , promoting the welfare of the Horsa Lodge in particular , and Masonry in general . ( Loud applause . )

Bro . MORTIMER HEATH , Grand Chaplain of England , gave the intro = ductory prayer . The PROV . G . SECRETARY appealed to the Presiding Officer , on behalf of the founders , to constitute the Horsa Lodge , and , by direction of the D . P . G . M ., the founders were arranged in order on each side of the lodge , and the P . G . Secretary read the petition and warrant . The founders having expressed their approval of the officers named in the petitioned warrant , resumed their seats .

Bro . the Rev . J . C . WILTON , Prov . G . C , delivered an oration on the nature and principles of the Institution . He said ; Masonry , according to the popular meaning of the term , is an art founded upon the principles of geometry , and directed to the use and convenience of mankind , but Fivemasonry has higher aims , nobler objects , a wider scope . It is directed not to the building an house made with hands in which the body shall dwell , but to the building a templo

made without hands , in which the soul shall live eternally , and the stones of which that temple has to be built are the principles of morality . Such an Institution , then , to which we belong must have existed from time immemorial , and though the beginnings of Freemasonry are lost in the mists of antiquity , and shrouded in that veil which time draws over all things human , yet we know that the written records go back in t lis country Soo years , and thus for eight centuries , at least , in this land of ours Freemasonry has

flourished , differing it is true in outward symbols and ritual , but the same always in internal truths , because those truths are undying and eternal , being the attributes of the Great Architect of the Universe Himself . A Freemasons' lodge then is symbolical of the universe itself—the universe is the Temple of God . It rests upon the three pillars of Wisdom , Strength , and Beauty . Wisdom is displayed in all God ' s works ; Strength is

shown in all creation ; and the Beauty of harmony shines everywhere forth . And in this lodge we have to learn our duty to the Great and Almighty Deity and our duty to our brethren . We have to rise in thought to Him who dwells in heaven . Thus , symbolically , the covering of the lodge is the canopy of heaven , and we rise there by the heavenly ladder reaching from earth to heaven . That ladder rests on the volume of thc Sacred Law , and the rounds of which it is composed are the moral virtues—the chief of