Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

Amongst the visitors who attended the Provincial Grand Lodge were Bros . J . R . Stebbing , P . G . D of England ; Dr . Bell , D . P . G . M . of the North and East Ridings ; — Fabian , P . S . G . W . of Hants ; and John Walker , P . G . D ., North and East Ridings .

After the business of the lodge a banquet took p lace at the Great Northern Railway Hotel , Leeds , and at which about 160 sat down . The Provincial Grand Master presided , and after the usual loyal and Masonic toasts had been given and duly honoured , the health of M . W . G . M of

England was proposed and enthusiastically honoured . The Provincial Grand Master responded , expressing his deep sense of the benefits resulting from Freemasonry when its principles were carefully carried out , and its precepts adhered to .

In proposing the health of the visitors , the Provincial Grand Master passed a high eulogium on Bro . Stebbing and on Bro . Dr . Bell , and stated that the province from which Dr . Bell came , and the Craft at large , could ill afford to lose a name which had been honoured in

Freemasonry—the name of Zetland . The present Earl of Zetland had now been prevailed upon to take the office of Provincinl Grand Master of the North and East Ridings . Bro . Stebbings replied on behalf of the visitors , saving that his brethren in the south

valued hig hly the Grand Master of the Craft , and he had that day come a journey to see how his brethren treated his Lordship on the soil of his own county and province . That reception , like his own , was as warm and generous as the reputed generous heart of [ a Yorkshireman could

make it . Various other toasts followed , that of the Marchioness of Ripon and the ladies being , at the request of the acting Deputy P . G . M ., proposed by Bro . Dr . Spark , the whole of the brethren responding enthusiastically with cheers and musical honours .

Bro . Lancaster , of Leeds , acted as Prov . G . Organist in the lodge , and afterwards presided at the piano , when Bros . Jos . Tetley , Maw , and others rendered efficient service by their admirable singing .

Consecration Of The St. Marylebone Chapter, No. 1305.

CONSECRATION OF THE ST . MARYLEBONE CHAPTER , No . 1305 .

The interesting ceremony of opening and consecrating a chapter in connection with the flourishing St . Marylebone Lodge , was performed on Wednesday , the 16 th inst ., at the British Stores , New-street , St . John ' s Wood , by Comp . John Hervey , the Grand Scribe E .,

assisted by Comps . 1 . A . Adams , P . Z ., as H . ; R . W . Wentworth Little , P . Z ., as J ., and A . A . Pendlebury as D . C . A procession was formed in the usual manner , and the chapter was opened by the President , the M . E . Z ., and the other Past Principals present . Comp . Hervey

then addressed the companions on the nature of the meeting , and expressed the great gratification he experienced to know that the parent lodge had progressed so rapidly during the three years of its existence as to be able to form a chapter with such a high promise of equal

stability and success . The consecration ceremony was then proceeded with , Comp . H . Parker , Prov . G . Organist , Middlesex , officiating at the pianoforte , and leading the chants . Comp . Little delivered the oration , and the chapter was duly dedicated and constituted .

Comp . Samuel G . Foxall , P . Z ., was then installed as M . E . Z . Comps . A . J . Codner , P . Z ., as H . ; and J . J . Pope , P . Z ., as J . These companions were , in the order stated , thc first three masters of the St . Marylebone Lodge . It was unanimously resolved that Comps . Hervey ,

Adams , Little and Pendlebury be elected honorary members of the chapter for their attendance and services , a compliment which Comp . Hervey gracefully acknowledged . A large number of propositions for exaltations

followed , after which the chapter was closed , nnd the companions sat down to a dinner , under the presidency ofthe M . E . Z ., Comp . Foxall . The JHCHM and wines reflected the utmost credit upon Bro . Fowler , the host , who was unremitting in his

Consecration Of The St. Marylebone Chapter, No. 1305.

attention to the comfort of the guests . The cloth having been removed , the health of Her Majesty was given with all the honours , succeeded by the National Anthem . The chief ruler of R . A . Masonry , the Marquess of Ripon , was then proposed and heartily received . After

the next toast , which was that of the Grand Officers , Comp . Parker executed a brilliant selection from " La Fille de Madame Angot , " which was greatly applauded , and Comp . Hervey responded , concluding with proposing " The Health of the M . E . Z ., and success to the

New Chapter . Comp . Foxall returned thanks . The next toast was " The H . and J ., " to which Comps . Codner and Pope replied . The M . E . Z ., then asked the companions to drink " The Health of Comp . Little" whom he eulogised

for Masonic zeal and perseverance , and that companion made a suitable response . The other toasts were " The Visitors " acknowledged by Comps . S . Foxall , P . Z . 742 ; F . K . Stevens , P . Z . ; C . B . Payne , P . Z . ; and W . Dodd , H . 1 194 , "The Officers" for whom Comps . Stringer , W . M . 1305 , and Austin responded ,

and the Janitor ' s toast . Several excellent songs and recitations were given by the M . E . Z ., Comps . Stevens and Parker , and the evening was most thoroughly enjoyed by all present . There can be no doubt of the new chapter ' s success , as its Principals are well-tried and worthy veterans in the Order .

Consecration Of The New Masonic Hall At Timaru.

CONSECRATION OF THE NEW MASONIC HALL AT TIMARU .

One of the greatest events in the history of Freemasonry in Timaru , occurred Nov . 20 th ., when the ceremony of consecration of the new Masonic Hall , Church-street , was performed . To those of our readers who may not be au fait in Masonic matters in Timaru , it may not be

uninteresting if we take a brief retrospective glance to the early days of the lodge here . For some time after the Lodge of St . John was first formed in Timaru , its members had to suffer the inconvenience of occupying a rented room , but finding their numbers increasing , and desiring to

possess a meeting place worthy of the ancient Order to which they belonged , a piece of land was leased from Mr . K . H . Rhodes , on LeCren ' sterrace , and tenders were invited on June 14 , 186 * 6 , for the erection of a stone building . Shortly afterwards , an offer was accepted , and on

August 30 , 1866—the foundations having been completed—the corner stone was laid with full Masonic ceremony by the Acting District Grand Master of Canterbury—Dr . Donald . The ceremony passed off with great eclat , the day being observed as a public holiday in the town . The

building then progressed slowly , and the first use made of it was the celebration of St . John ' s day , on June 24 , by the holding of a banquet in the large room . A little while later , and close upon twelve months from the laying of the foundation stone ( August , 1867 ) the building was completed

at a cost of about £ 1 , 000 , and although the inside was elegant and convenient , the appearance ofthe outside had little to recommend it , besides substantiality . Nevertheless the building in those days was considered a great town improvement . The

members of the lodge continued to use the hall until early in the year 1 S 72 , and were then compelled to vacate it in consequence of the cutting for the Timarn-Temuka railway , rendering it unsafe for habitation . The building was razed , and after th « Government had paid the amount

of compensation assessed by the District Court in January of the present year , a site for a new hall was purchased in Church-street , opposite the English Church . Competitive designs were at once called for a building , and those submitted by Mr . F . J . Wilson , architect , of this town ,

were selected . Tlie calling for tenders for erection of the building followed , the result being lhat the offer of Mr . Thomas Parsons was accepted . Work w ; is foon commenced , and on April 14 of ths present year tlie foundation stone

was laid b y the Worshi pful Master , Bro . G . H . Wildie , without Masonic ceremony . From that time till its completion ( about three days ago ) a period of about eight months , the building progressed without a hitch of any kind , and the

Consecration Of The New Masonic Hall At Timaru.

Masons of Timaru are ' now possessed of a hall which all who have seen acknowledge to be the best in Canterbury . The building , which covers an area of 54 feet by 50 feet , is composed of bluestone , with a galvanised iron roof . The foundations ,

averaging a height of about 10 feet , are built in random rubble , as also are the side and back walls , 15 feet in height . In the front wall , about 20 feet in heig ht , the bluejstone work is in block rubble , and the facings are in cement in imitation of white stone . The front elevation is in the

Grecian style of architecture , and presents a very handsome appearance . Above the entrance to the vestibule is a Masonic emblem in cement , and above that on the coping , worked in the same material is the date of the building of the hall—A . L . 5873 . After passing through the

vestibule ( 8 feet by 5 feet ) the walls of which are in imitation of white stone , a lobby 8 feet by 7 feet is entered . To the ri ght of the lobby is situated the library and committee room , 19 feet by 12 feet 6 inches , with a recess , 8 feet by 8 feet , as a repository for books . This room is

lighted by a large window , and is provided with a fire place . The Worshi pful Master ' s room is at the eastern side of the committee room . Its dimensions are 50 feet by 25 feet in the clear , and its height 17 feet 6 inches . The room ia lighted by three large windows and the

woodwork around these is well finished , and painted a light blue . The skirting boards are also of the same colour . At the eastern end of the room is the dais , the top of which is gained by three steps , about eight inches each in height . The furniture , the woodwork of which is polished

cedar , is of a very superior description , and is a credit to the manufacturer , Mr . W . L . Edwards , of this place . The chairs and couches , the latter extending along two sides and one end of the room , are stuffed , and covered with scarlet repp . In the centre of the room is placed an

oblong piece of oilcloth , painted in white and black squares , and upon the remainder of the floor is stretched cocoauut matting . On the right hand side of the room at the front of the dais , is stationed a neat little American organ , which the lodge has just purchased at a cost of

£ 60 . The whole building is very creditably finished , creditable alike to the architect and contractor . The total cost of the building is 4 ^ 1250 . From noon the day was observed as a public holiday in the town , and all places of business

were closed . Shortly before twelve o ' clock an emergency meeting of the St . John ' s Lodge was held in the Oddfellow ' s Lodge Room , preparatory to proceeding to consecrate the Hall , and in addition to the members of the Caledonian Lodge , there were present the following

representatives of the Grand Lodge : —Bros . Thompson , Acting Deputy District Grand Master , P . M . ; Dobbs ; Booth , P . M . ; Shakleton , Master elect ofthe Canterbury Lodge ; Mitchell , P . M . ; and the Rev . W . H . Cooper . Just before one o ' clock , the procession issued

from the Oddfellow s Hall in the usual order . The procession , which was marshalled by the Grand Deputy Master of Ceremonies Bro . Mitchell , kept excellent order , and presented a very pleasing spectacle . The members were

in evening dress , and decorated with full Masonic regalia . A large number of persons assembled to witness the procession , which after moving along Barnard and Sophia-streets , turned into Church-street and came to a halt in

the churcnyard . Here the procession opened right and left , and the Acting Deputy District Grand Master , who had previously occupied a rear position , led the way into the church followed by the procession and the spectators . The church was soon filled in every part , and

service commenced at one o clock . The sermon , which was listened to very attentively , was preached by Bro . Rev . W . H . Cooper , Grand Chaplain , the text being taken from St . Paul ' s ist Epistle to the Corinthians , xiii . chapter , 13 v .

At the conclusion of the service the Masonic body left the church and proceeded to the new hall , for the purpose of taking part in the ceremony ol consecration . After the members of the lodge had become seated , and everything had been got in readiness for the ceremony , the