Consecration Of The United Wards Lodge.

In responding to the toast of "The Grand Officers , " Bro . Justice Bucknill hoped that the United Wards Lodge would be successful . In submitting "The Consecrating Officers , " Bro . Sir Thomas Hitchins particularly expressed admiration of the manner in which Sir Echvard Letchworth had conducted the

ceremony , and said he felt assured that all had been deeply impressed b y it . They had had acting as S . W . during the ceremony an old civic friend , Sir Joseph Dimsdale . Sir Joseph Avas his Lord Mayor at the time he became Sheriff , and he owed him a deep debt of gratitude . In their Junior

Warden , too , they had another Avell-known member of the Corporation , Sir Horace Marshall , AVIIO had always exhibited the keenest interest in Freemasonry . Sir Edward Letchworth , in reply , observed that no duty gave him greater pleasure than that of taking part in the

starting of a UCAV lodge , and that pleasure Avas increased when he knew , as in this case , that the lodge was one which could not fail to have before it a great measure of success . Sir Joseph Dimsdale also acknOAvledged the toast . He

said he stood before them not as Chamberlain of London , but as a brother , and as a representative of the City of London in Parliament . His position there was regardless of politics—and the fiscal policy . He felt confident that he only stated what was the feeling of every Consecrating Officer

when he said that he hoped they had been instrumental in bringing into life a lodge which would redound to the credit of the members who had founded it , and to the benefit of mankind in general . The toast of "The Worshipful Master" Avas given by Bro . Alderman Vaughan Morgan . The promise Bro . Sir Thomas

had g iven them that evening whilst in the chair Avas , he said , a sufficient testimony that the founders had been very successful in their choice of Master . In reply , the W . M ., who Avas received with prolonged applause , said he always tried to do his duty , and that which

his office as the Master of the lodge entailed , he hoped to carry out to their entire satisfaction . He deeply appreciated the honour which the founders had conferred upon him in asking him to be the first Master of the lodge . Sir Thomas then referred to the I . P . M ., Bro . S . F . Isitt ,.

Avho had taken a deep interest in the formation of the lodge ; and , on behalf of the lodge , presented a Past Master ' s jewel to him . Bro . Isitt replied , and submitted the toast of "The Visitors . "

Bro . Viscount Hayashi ( AVIIO Avas cordially received ) responding . The toast of " The Officers of the Lodge " Avas given by the W . M . Bros . A . Ritchie , Enos HOAVCS , H . S . A . Foy , and Rodger replied .

Somersetshire Lodge, No. 2925.

Somersetshire Lodge , No . 2925 .

ON Monday , October 12 th , at the " Trocadero , " Rt . Wot * . Bro . Viscount Dungarvan , P . G . M . Somersetshire , completed a most successful year of office as Master of the Somersetshire Lodge , by installing W . Bro . T . Whitemore Chant , a Avell known and prominent London Mason and a member of the Board of Management of the R . M . I . Boys , as his successor .

HtiO . T . AVHITKMOliK CHANT . Among the distinguished brethren present were : —Y . W . Bro . Rev . Canon Brownrigg , P . G . Chaplain ; Y . W . Bro . George Everett , P . G . T . ; W . Bro . Sir J . R . Somcrs Vine , C . M . G ., P . G . D . ; W . Bro . James Stephens , P . Dep . G . D . C . ; W . Bro . T . A . Bullock , P . G . Swd . Br ., Treasurer ; W . Bro .

Lt .-Col . G . H . N . Bridges , P . G . Swd . Br . ; W . Bro . J . M . McLeod , P . G . Swd . Br . ; W . Bro . Percy Fitzgerald , P . G . Std . B . The Worshipful Master appointed and invested his officers as follows : —W . Bro . Henry Newland , S . W . ; Bro . Dr . John Henry Bryant , J . W . ; Wor . Bro . T . Adolphus

Bullock , P . G . S . B ., Treasurer ; Wor . Bro . F . Trehawke Davies , Secretary ; Bro . F . Clifford Goodman , S . D . ; Bro . John Crouch , J . D . ; Bro . Charles A . Rumboll , I . G . ; Wor . Bro . A . G . Wedmore , D . of C . ; Wor . Bro . H . A . Badman , 1 st Steward ; Bro . Edwin Sloper , 2 nd Steward ; Wor Bro .

Henry Martin , Tyler . At the banquet which followed , the usual loyal toasts were duly honoured . In proposing the toast of " The Grand Officers , " the Worshipful Master congratulated the Craft upon the

appointment of the Rt . Hon . T . F . Halsey , M . P ., a capable and veteran Mason , who for thirty years had filled the office of Prov . Grand Master of Hertfordshire , to the important post of Deput y Grand Master , in succession to the Earl of Warwick , and expressed the pleasure of the brethren at having so many Grand Officers present .

The Rev . Canon Brownrigg , P . G . f ., replying , said it was the irony of fate that the Celt should be called upon to reply to the toast of the Grand Officers in a lodge so purely Saxon as the " Somersetshire . " Had they lived in the pre-historic times , he and Rt . Wor . Bro . Lord Dungarvan Avould be H ying at one anothers throats instead of sitting quietly on each side

of the Worshipful Master . The complete blend of Celt , Saxon and Norman , Avas proved in their meeting that evening . R . Wor . Bro . Viscount Dungarvan , in proposing the toast of "The Worshipful Master , " quoted the old proverb , " Uneasy

lies the head that wears the crown , " and said he would slightly alter it and say , " Uneasy would be the position of the Worshipful Master , if in pre-historic times he bad sat betAveen a Saxon and a Celt . " It had been a pleasure to him to install Bro . T . Whitemore Chant into the chair of Worshipful Master , for which he was so ably qualified . The

lodge not only owed its existence to Bro . T . Whitemore Chant's efforts , but its gratitude to him for bringing Somerset