Installation Of H.R.H. The Duke Of Connaught And Strathearn

between England , Ireland and Scotland . It was with eagerness he had come to visit the Grand Mark Lodge of England . Irish Alasons , like the Dublin Fusiliers , were not to be linked with those who refused to do honour to our King ; there were many thousands of Irishmen who were loyal and true to the Great Empire , of which they were proud to be a part .

Bro . Frank Davies , Victoria , stated that too much credit had been given him by the Pro Grand Alaster for what he had done in bringing the Mark Alasons of Victoria into line with England , where they now said : " if it is good enough for England it is good enough for us . " He was glad to

have witnessed the installation of the brother of our beloved King , and could assure them that Britons beyond the seas were as loyal as at home—in fact , you needed them as much as they needed you . Australia at the present time was rejoicing with the Mother Country at the Peace proclamation . Bro . Col . Clifford Probyn ( Alayor of Westminster ) , in proposing the toast of " The Mark Benevolent Fund , " urged

its claims with great fervour as it was founded on the best of principles , namely , that no deductions whatever were made for management of office expenses , but every traction subscribed went to those deserving of it , and that without any humiliating publicity or delay . Bro . C . F . Alatier , Hon . Secretary of the Fund , replied ,

and thanked Bro . Col . Probyn for the way he had pleaded the cause , as he was sorry to say that , although they were to be honoured by having the Lord Alayor as Chairman this year , he had up to the present only half the usual number of Stewards , and he hoped a large number of those present

would rally round and hand in their names to him . The Earl of Euston proposed the toast ol " The Grand Stewards , " who had worked so well , and had attended to their comforts in such an admirable manner . Bro . Capt . Thorp , President of the Board of Grand Stewards , responded , and thanked the brethren for the hearty manner in which the toast had been received .

Consecration Of The Pen And Brush Lodge, No. 2909.

Consecration of the Pen and Brush Lodge , No . 2909 .

THE above lodge , founded in the interests of members of the Journalistic , Artistic and Dramatic Professions , was consecrated at the Trocadero Restaurant on Monday , June 9 th , by V . W . Bro . Edward Letchworth , Grand Secretary , assisted by Bros . Edward Terry , P . G . T ., as S . W . ; John Strachan , K . C ., Grand Registrar , as J . W . ; the Rev . H . W .

Turner , P . G . C ., as Chaplain ; Frank Richardson , P . D . G . Registrar , as D . C . ; and T . A . Bullock , P . G . S . B ., as I . G . In the course of the beautiful ceremony , which was perfectly rendered , the Chaplain , the Rev . H . W . Turner , delivered the following oration -.

—Brethren , —In response to the call of our Consecrating Officer , I gladly avail myself of the privilege thus accorded me of congratulating the founders of this lodge , and of wishing them all the success which this auspicious gathering seems to promise , and also of offering , as I am bound to do , a few

words of exhortation to them and to this assemblage generally . In the course of the solemn procedure of consecrating a lodge , it is a timely and a time-honoured custom with us , that at a moment like the present , when our hearts must be softened by the sanctity of the occasion and the

beauty of the ceremony , and therefore must be receptive of the best and most lasting impressions , we should be reminded that the nature of our ancient and noble Institution is

distinctly a religious one , founded as it is on the Volume of the Sacred Law , which contains the revelation of our Alaker ' s Holy Will and Word ; and its ordained purpose is to promote the glory of God by the maintenance and extension of those Divine principles of Mercy , and Charity , and Truth , which help to establish and confirm the brotherhood of

man . With what emphasis of meaning that phrase appeals to us just now ! One feeling just now is predominant in our breasts which found its expression yesterday in the thanksgivings openly rendered to the Almighty Ruler of Nations by the King , our Protector , and his united

people for the restoration of peace . We do not touch on politics , and we know nothing of parties within these sacred walls . As Alasons , we are sons of peace , we follow after the things that make for peace , and our mission is to foster universal benevolence and cement

goodwill amongst all mankind . But it may interest you all to know that I heard it stated a little while ago by the Grand Alaster of Natal that during those fierce and protracted hostilities of the war , over the cessation of which we are rejoicing , the only places which our brave and dogged

adversaries refrained from spoiling or defiling were the places where Alasons held their meetings , and he gave it as his opinion—and an opinion based on such experience

is worth attention—that when peace was made nothing would help so much to dispel animosities , and bridge over variances , and bring about iricncUy relations between all classes in those disturbed regions of South Africa , as the institution of Freemasonry , with its standard characteristics of brotherly love , relief and truth . What need I say more ? What can I

say better , to illustrate the high purpose and sublime nature of our craft ? I will only add that if such may be the blessed effect of its principles , how careful we should be—in every lodge—individually and collectively—to see that these

131 ) 0 . W . S . PENLKY , W . M .

principles shall be worthily upheld and thoroughly dissimulated , and we are confident they will be amongst ourselves . The name of this new lodge indicates that it will have associations with literature and art , and therefore will

number amongst its members those who will specially appreciate , and be interested in the history and traditions , the rites and ceremonies of our Order—may they also value and inculcate the deep and inward religious and moral truths which offer allegories and symbols continually to the eye and ear ,

and which alone give them vitality and life , and so to-day may there be added to the Register of the Grand Lodge of England another lodge that shall ever uphold its dignity and