Untitled Article

was an extremely numerous attendance of the Brethren . The chair was filled by Bro . W . B . Beach , P . M ., P . Prov . S . G . W . & c . & c . The Lodge having been opened in due form , the W . M . proceeded to initiate into the Order Sir Michael H . Beach , Bart ., and Messrs . Parish , Eden , and Clayton . As all the candidates were under age , a dispensation for their initiation had been procured . The

W . M . elect , Bro . Henry Adair Pickard , of Christ Church , P . Prov . G D . C ., was then installed into the chair , the whole of the ceremonies of the day being impressively performed by Bro . Beach , than whom a better working Mason does not exist . The new W . M . appointed as his Officers as follows : Bros . J . E . Codrington , S . W . ; H . Barter , Merton College , J . W . ; M . S . Walrond , Balliol College , Sec . ; A . Faber , New College , S . D . ; J . C . Farmborough , Magdalen Hall , J . D . ; Quentin Twiss , I . G . : W . H . Button , Trinity College , M . C .

At the conclusion of the business , the Brethren adjourned to a very elegant banquet , prepared on their own premises . The room was handsomely decorated , and on the cross table was a magnificent candelabrum , which was presented by the Brethren to Bro . Thompson , P . Prov . S . G . W ., who is an old P . M ., and the Treasurer of the Lodge . The chair was occupied by the W . M ., who was supported by about eighty Brethren , many of whom were visitors . Amongst those in the immediate vicinity

of the chair , we noticed Bros . Spiers , D . Prov . G . M . for Oxfordshire ; Purton Cooper , Prov . G . M . for Kent ; Dr . Kent , Prov . G . M . for Australia ; Herbert Lloyd , G . S . D . ; Warren , G . Steward ; Alderman Sadler ( late Mayor of Oxford ) , P . M . ; Rev . G . Portal , P . M ., P . Prov . G . S . W ; Rev . — Sidebottom , W . M . - , No . 902 ; Rev . C . Pettat , P . M ., P . Prov . G . Chap . ; Newmarch , P . M . No . 862 , Cirencester ; Hester , W . M . No . 425 ; Wyatt , P . M . No . 425 ; Randell , P . M . No . 425 ; Wyndham Portal , S . W . No . 10 ; F . Cox , J . D . No 10 , & o . & c . Grace was said by the Rev . Bro . Pettat .

On the removal of the cloth , the toasts of the Queen and the Craft , and the Earl of Zetland , M . W . G . M . of Masons , were drunk with all the honours . The W . M . had now to propose the health of the Earl of Yarborough and the Officers of the Grand Lodge . They were honoured that evening with the company of the G . S . D ., who had rendered very important services to the Craft , and was a Yice-President of the Boys' School . There was likewise present Bro . Spiers , P . G . S . B ., who was well known to them , and other Grand and Prov . G . Officers . He begged to give them the Earl of Yarborough , D . G . M ., Bro . Herbert Lloyd , G . S . D ., and the rest of the Grand Officers .

Bro . Herbert Lloyd , G . S . D ., returned thanks . He regretted that illness had for some time deprived them of the services of the Right Hon . D . G . M ., who was truly devoted in his desire to promote the interests of Freemasonry , but he trusted he would soon be restored to them . He had long anticipated the pleasure of visiting this Lodge . He had been that day highly delighted with the working , and he could assure the younger Brethren , that if they followed the excellent example which had been set them , they could not fail to maintain the high character which the Lodge held in the Craft .

The W . M . next gave the P . G . M . Bro . Bowyer , and the D . P . G . M . Bro . Spiers , who was too well known , both in Oxfordshire and London to need his saying anything to recommend the toast to their notice . Bro . Spiers , D . P . G . M ., regretted that a double duty devolved upon him that

day , owing to the unavoidable absence of their respected G . M . in consequence of a domestic affliction , he having just lost his mother , to whom he was deeply attached . It gave him sincere pleasure to return thanks on behalf of the Prov . G . Officers for the compliment paid them , and he would assure them they always felt highly gratified when they had an opportunity of visiting the Apollo Lodge . When Lord John Churchill was Prov . G . M . for Oxfordshire , the necessity wan

pointed out to him of allowing dispensations for the initiation ol candidates under age . The noble lord was at first opposed to it , but after some consideration , especially with regard to the age at which many of the members of the University loft it , he consented , and dispensations were granted for the initiation of young men not under nineteen , ami they always endeavoured to obtain them as near twenty as possible . Grand Lodge acceded them that privilege , and how