Laying The Foundation Stones Of New Masonic Hall At Sittingbourne.

Marris ) was convinced that the erection of their Masonic Hall , the foundation stone of which had just so happily been laid , would greatly add not only to the convenience and comfort of the brethren , but greatly to the future prosperity of St . Michael's Lodge , and which they all had at heart ; and further , their new hall would stand as a mark , not only of the liberality of their good Bro . Burley , but

also as evidence of the Masonic interest and perseverance of the brethren of St . Michael ' s Lodge . Bro . Marris then completed the laying of the second foundation stone , and the proceedings then terminated . Bro . Laurance Seager , S . VV . of the lodge , is the architect and builder of the Hall , and which will consist of a very handsome and commodious lodge room , entrance hall ,

two reception rooms , with lavatory , & c , and other offices , and will have a fine brick and stone Gothic front , extensively embellished with Masonic insignias ; and the Hall generally promises to be a building in every way suitable for the purpose for which it k being erected . 'Ihe Hall when completed is to be dedicated to , and kept entirely for , Masonry .

To commemorate this auspicious event , a banquet was given at the Bull Hotel in the evening , under the presidency of the W . M ., Bro . Henry Marris , and who was well supported by the officers , Past Masters , and brethren of the lodge . A programme of music was arranged by the Secretary of the lodge , Bro . Herbert Black , P . M ., and who was most

ably assisted by Bro . C Waite , Miss Waite , and Mrs . Croucher . The brethren of St . Michael ' s Lodge , No . 1273 , have good reason to be proud , and to congratulate themselves on the good and important work performed on Wednesday , the 13 th inst ., and which will for ever stand as a " redletter" day in the annals of the lodge .

Dinner Of The Shepherd And Flock Masonic Club.

DINNER OF THE SHEPHERD AND FLOCK MASONIC CLUB .

On Thursday , the 21 st inst ., the members of the abovenamed club and their wives celebrated their second anniversary with a dinner at the Club Room , Great Swan-alley , E . C . Bro . Haylock , W . M . 901 , presided , and Bro . Hickman , P . M . 22 S , occupied the vice-chair .

After the usual loyal toasts had been duly honoured , The CHAIRMAN , in proposing " Success to the above Club , " alluded to the probable amalgamation with the City of London Lodge of Instruction , and , on behalf of the members of the Shepherd and Flock Club , presented Bro . Hickman ( the Preceptor ) with an illuminated address , bearing the names of most of the members , as a mark of

his valuable services , wishing he might be spared many years to continue his office , as it was only due to his punctual attendance that the members of the Club had been made proficient to perform the duties in their mother lodges , and the Club had been so useful in the past . Bro . HICKMAN ably responded , and said he was quite at a loss to know how to thank them for their many

kindnesses , and assured the members that it was a great pleasure to him to attend their weekly gatherings , as it seemed the members so appreciated his labour , and hoped the Club would continue to be as prosperous in the future as it had been in the past . During the evening Mrs . Bouffler , Miss Haylock , Bros . South , Rubardt , Cook , Bouffler , Hickman , and Smith contributed to the evening's enjoyment .

Annual Supper Of The Rose Lodge Of Instruction, No. 1622.

ANNUAL SUPPER OF THE ROSE LODGE OF INSTRUCTION , No . 1622 .

There were 45 brethren present on Thursday , the 14 th instant , at the Stirling Castle , Camberwell , to celebrate the annual supper of this lodge . The chair was occupied by Bto . W . C . Page , P . M ., P . Z ., the W . M . of the mother lodge , and he was supported , among others , by Bros . D .

Rose , P . M ., Preceptor ; W . Cowley , P . M ., P . Z ., Treas . ; T . Grummant , P . M ., P . Z ., Secretary ; and C H . Stone , Asst . Sec . The Stewards for the evening included the Secretary , Asst . Secretary , Bros . J . Addington , P . M ., M . E . Z . 1275 ; H . Martin , S . D . 1622 : J . T . Penney , W . M . 1679 ; and W . Towers , W . M . 15 . After a substantial repast had been ably discussed , the

usual toasts followed . Bro . F . HILTON , P . M ., P . Z ., proposed "The Health of the Chairman" in a very eulogistic speech , and it was duly responded to . Bro . PAGE proposed " Success to the Rose Lodge of Instruction , " in doing which he pointed out its valuable work , and spoke highly of its great influence .

Bro . DAVID ROSE , P . M ., Preceptor , responded , thanking those present , and urging them to make good use of the lodge . Bro . PAGE proposed " The Treasurer and the Secretary . " The SECRETARY , in responding , pointed out the scope of the work for the pastyaar . The average attendance was 27 J-, and there was an average of seven P . M . ' s . He also drew special attention to the fourth Charitable Association

which had recently commenced . When it is completed nearly , Cioco will have been subscribed to the Charities in this way . During the evening Bros . Harcourt , West , and Todd gave suitable and interesting recitations , and the happiness of thc company wasj also otherwise increased by capital songs from Bros . Lowton , Stone , Whitehead , Capt Thornhill , and Morgan .

Annual Ball And Banquet Of The Fidelity Lodge, No. 230, At Devonport.

ANNUAL BALL AND BANQUET OF THE FIDELITY LODGE , No . 230 , AT DEVONPORT .

The annual installation banquet of the above lodge , •which was postponed in January last in consequence of the lamented death of the respected Treasurer , Bto . J . Lynn , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B ., was held on the 13 th inst . at the Royal Hotel . This is the only lodge in the province at which the

brethren invite ladies to the annual banquet , and a brilliant assembly of nearly 200 ladies and gentlemen sat down to an excellent and well-served spread . A string band was in attendance during the dinner . TheW . M ., Bro . Fred Orchard , presided . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were duly honoured . In proposing •' The Health of the Treasurer and Secre-

Annual Ball And Banquet Of The Fidelity Lodge, No. 230, At Devonport.

tary , " the W . M . said Bro . J . Whitford , P . M ., was yet an untried man as Treasurer , but he had previously done veoman ' s service in the lodge . Of their Secretary , he could only say that he took charge of the lodge when it was very weak , and he had nurtured it until the lodge was one of the strongest in the province . In appreciation of his zeal and ability and indefatigable efforts on behalf of

the lodge , a portrait of Bro . Cawsey had been presented to the lodge , so that unborn Masons could see the worthy men who had passed before . But the brethren wished for Bro . Cawsey ' s own relatives to see the high estimation in which he was held by the brethren , and he therefore had the greatest possible pleasure in presenting Bro . Cawsey with his portrait in Masonic regalia .

Bro . WHITEORD having acknowledged the toast , Bro . CAWSEY , who was heartily received , thanked tbe brethren for their handsome gift . When he was first connected with the lodge they had only twenty members , while now they had a membership of over a hundred . Some capital songs were sung by Brcs . Sylvester , Herbert , and Leonard .

The banquet over , a ball took place , under the direction of Bro . W . H . Burt , J . W ., who made a courteous and efficient M . C For those who did not indulge in the terpsichorean art a concert was ' arranged . Dancing was kept up until two o ' clock , and all separated , declaring that the banquet and ball were the most successful ever held in the history of the lodge .

A Presentation To Bro. Walter B. Marcus, W.M. 1839 And S.W. 2264.

A PRESENTATION TO BRO . WALTER B . MARCUS , W . M . 1839 AND S . W . 2264 .

A presentation to the above brother took place on Friday evening , the 22 nd inst ., at Cannon-street Hotel , in connection with the Chough Musical Society , with which Bro . Marcus has been connected from the date of its formation some ten years since , and of which he is now the Treasurer .

On Friday , this Society , which has the reputation of being the best of its kind , gave the tenth and last smoking concert for the season iSSS-g , when the great hall at the terminus hotel was full to overflowing . The concert was a real musical treat , as may be inferred from the list of performers , which included Master Charles Steward , Mr . ] as . A . Brown , Mr . Lester , Mr . Albert James , Mr . A . Orlando

Thompson , Mr . T . VV . Page , Mr . Harley , Mr . F . Bevan , Mr . Henry Bailey , Mr . Arthur Strugnell , Mr . Robert Hilton , and Mr . F . H . Horscroft , the last named being ( he conductor , and Mr . J . Turle Lee being the accompanist . At the commencement of the second portion of the programmethe Ptesident of the Society , Mr . VV . J . Noad ,

, who occupied the chair , made a graceful little speech in honour of Bro . Marcus , xvho had been connected with the society from its commencement , who had been one of its originators , and who , after having served upon the Committee , was induced to accept the Treasurership upon that office becoming vacant , and who had since looked after their funds right well , a function which involved a large

amount of labour and responsibility , and which without remuneration he had discharged with great ability and in a kind and genial manner , that won him the respect and esteem of everyone . The members desiring to mark their appreciation of his services had commissioned him to present Bro . Marcus with a silver tea arid coffee service and a handsome gold watch , accompanied with an illuminated

address in the following terms : " We , the undersigned President and Committee , on behalf of the members of the Chough Musical Society , have much pleasure in presenting you with this address , together with a silver tea and coffee service , in recognition of your services as Treasurer for many years , and of our respect for you and appreciation of the zeal , energy , and courteous manner in

which you have devoted yourself to the interests of the Society , and with the hope that you and your family may long enjoy this expression of our appreciation of your merits . Signed : President—W . J . Noad ; Committee—Messrs . T . P . Child , E . T . Edwards , G . J . Judge , Geo . Morand , C Mussared , E . R . Norman , E . Piggott , H . Saxelby , R .

Thornton , W . H . Tomsett , C . A . Wade , T . J . Wilkinson , and F . Williams ; Secretary—J . B . Howell . " Want of space prevents our saying more than that Bro . Marcus thanked the donors very heartily for their handsome present and kind words , and , after one or two other speeches had been made in regard to the Society , the singing was resumed .

The Recent Festival Of The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

THE RECENT FESTIVAL OF THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The following sums have been received since last week , namely : —

LONDON . £ s . d . Unattached—Bro . Belgrave Ninnis 10 10 0

PROVINCE . SURREY . Lodge 2096 Bro . J . S . Fraser—additional 10 10 o ( raising his list to X 142 iGs . )

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

RESULT OF THE CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY LOCAL EXAMINATION , DECEMBER , iSSS . Nineteen candidates sent up ; 14 passed—HONOURS—CLASS II .: A . Blunt , J . P . Seagravc , and J . P . Templeman .

CLASS HI .: F . F . Coleman , H . R . Graves , and F . A . Herring . SATISEIED THE EXAMINERS : S . H . Bevis , J . Bloomfield , S . W . Gibson , F . W . Lewis , N . McCaskie , J . Shaw , L . Taylor , and J . E . Walters . Honours , 6 ; satisfied examiners , S .

The Mansion House tund for the relief of the distress caused by the late famine in China now amounts to upwards of £ 21 , 000 .

The Brook Smith Memorial Window.

THE BROOK SMITH MEMORIAL WINDOW .

MASONIC SERVICE AT ST . MARY'S , CHELTENHAM . The rare spectacle of a Masonic ceremony—or rather o a service Masonic in its character—was witnessed on Wednesday afternoon , the 20 th inst ., at St . Mary ' s Parish

Church , Cheltenham . The occasion was the unveiling and formal presentation to the Rector of Cheltenham of a handsome window , which , at a cost of about 250 guineas , has been placed in the south transept of the church as the fraternal tribute of the Freemasons of the Povince of Gloucestershire to the memory of the late Deputy Prov . Grand Master , Bro . John Brook Smith , M . A ., whose death

ic was our painful duty to record last May . At the meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge immediately after the occurrence it was decided to erect a memorial , and after some discussion as to the form which it should take , a further adornment of the mother church of Cheltenhamalready indebted to the Craft for its fine east window—was resolved upon as the scheme most appropriate to the object

in view . Accordingly , a commission was given to Messrs . Lavers , Westlake , andCo ., Bloomsbury , London , to execute the work which has now been unveiled , and which , in reverent feeling and artistic taste , as also in Masonic suggestiveness and character , is a fitting companion to the previous gift . The five lights of the window are filled in with figures admirably drawn and coloured , the Scriptural characters

represented being such as are known to be associated with the legend of Masonic origin and history . Prominent and central is that of King Solomon , who , as required by the traditions of Mediaeval art , is represented holding in his hand a symbolic miniature of the Temple which he builded . On the right and left respectively are Moses , with the Tables of Law , and Joshua , the High Priest , arrayed in his

sacerdotal robes ; and the figures in the two remaining lights are those of St . John the Baptist and St . John the Evangelist , each with his appropriate emblem—the former bearing a scroll and the words Agnus Dei , and the latter carrying the open Testament . In the tracery lights above appear angelic forms praising God upon instruments of music . The canopy work throughout the window is elaborately

and skilfully executed , not obscuring or confusing thc figures , but throwing them into bold and strong reliet , and many of the minor spaces in the tracery are occupied by Masonic emblems , conveying to those conversant with such records , a knowledge of the high position held by Bro . Brook Smith in the various branches of Masonic life . At the base is inscribed the dedication of the window , in the

following - words : "To the glory of God , and in fraternal memory of John Brook Smith , M . A ., and Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Gloucestershire , who died 5 th May , 1 S 88 , aged 64 . This window is erected by the Freemasons of the Province , January , 1 S 89 . Right Honourable Sir M . li . Hicks Beach , P . G . M ., R . V . Vassar-Smith , D . P . G . M . " The service for the presentation of this memorial gift ,

and which necessarily partook of the nature of a memorial service , was held at one o ' clock , prior to which hour admission was obtained by means of tickets only . Enhanced as it was by the presence , in civic state , of the Mayor and Corporation , who willingly accepted the invitation of the officers of Provincial Grand Lodge , to pay a mark of respect to the memory of a former Alderman of the borough ,

the interest of the event led to a considerable demand for tickets , and the greater part of the church was filled for some time before the commencement of the service . Altogether , with the provision of additional seats , accommodation was afforded for a congregation of 700 persons , and quite that number were present on the occasion . The pews in the nave were reserved for the Corporationand

, for members of the Craft , who attended from all parts of the province . It being regarded as an official function , the Town Council met and robed at the Municipal Offices , and thence , preceded by the mace-bearer , walked in procession to the church , where they were conducted by the brethren having charge of the arrangements to the seats allotted them .

The Mayor , Bro . Col . Thoyts , P . M ., was accompanied by the Deputy Mayor , Mr . Haddon ; Aldermen Bro . Simms-Bull , Captain Welch , R . N ., Bro . G . Parsonage , and Bro . J . C Griffith ; Councillors Bros . Kite , Norman , P . M ., P . P . G . R ., Darby , and King , Cox , E . H . Parsonage , Neale , Heath , Hands , Ferguson , Connor , and Price ; the Town Clerk , Mr . E . T . Brydges ; the Borough Surveyor ,

Mr . G . Sadler ; and the Medical Officer , Bro . Dr . Roach . Amongst the brethren present directly concerned in the function or otherwise were Bros . Sir Michael Hicks Beach , Bart , M . P ., Prov . G . M . ; R . V . Vassar-Smith , Deputy Prov . G . M . ; the Dean of Gloucester , Chris . V . Childe , P . P . G . R . Berks and Oxon ; Hattersley-Smith , P . M . ; tho Baron de Ferrieres , P . G . D . ; J . B . Winterbotham , P . G .

Sec . ; T . Nelson Foster , P . G . Treas . ; VV . H . Gwinnett , P . P . S . G . W . ; F . Millman , P . J . G . W . ; W . Renwick , P . G . S . B . ; J . A . Matthews , P . G . Org . ; Rev . W . A . Sole , P . M . 82 , P . P . J . G . W . ; E . C Sewell , P . M . 592 , P . P . J . G . W . ; VV . R . Porcher , P . M . 246 , P . P . G . Reg . ; W . L . Bain , P . M . 246 , P . P . G . Reg . ; Forth , P . M . 24 6 , P . P . G . Reg . ; Rev . F . Moore , P . M . 900 , P . P . G . D . of

C ; E . T . Bryant , P . M . 246 , P . P . G . D . of C ; E . Dening , P . M . 591 , P . J . G . D . ; R . Blizard ; E . Lawrence , P . M . 246 , P . P . G . D . ; W . R . Felton , P . M . 24 6 , P . P . S . G . W . ; VV . Powell , P . M . 900 , P . P . G . S . B . ; R . Prowde Smith , P . M . S 2 , P . P . S . G . W . ; W . J . L . Butler , P . M . 246 , P . P . J . G . D . ; J . Gee , P . M . 1005 ; E . Baylis , W . M . 82 : W . Edwards . W . M . 401 : W . C . Ferris ,

W . M . 1005 ; H . Godwin Chance , 839 ; R . Anslow , P . M . 1120 ; F . Fenner , W . M . 246 ; T . Furber , 24 6 ; A . Baker , S . VV . 900 ; T . Huband , J . W . 246 ; G . H . Goold , 493 ; B . London , Major Rogers , J . W . S 2 ; Rev . C . E . Letroy Austin , Major Logan , Waghorne , 246 ; Lieut .-Col . Ford , 82 ; Wheatley , 246 ; T . Steel , 246 ; J » Ryland , 246 ; B . Combe , 246 ; F . H . Rea , I . G . 246 ;

F . Wright , 24 C ; Seys , Partridge , and H . Phillips , Tyler . It is scarcely necessary to say that Masonic clothjng was worn , and imparted to the old building great brilliance of colour . _ . A special form of service had been prepared , the choral portion of which was rendered by a large and most efficient Gloucester

( surpliced ) choir , consisting of four from Cathedral , 12 from St . Matthew's , 14 from Christ Church , and members of the Foundation and Royal Union Lodges , Cheltenham , under the direction of the Prov . G . Urg . j Bro . J . A . Matthews . For his opening voluntary , Bro . Matthews played an adagio by Spohr , and ChopmS