Untitled Article

OXFOBDSHIBE . Banbury . —Cherwell Lodge ( No . 873 ) .- —The Anniversary Festival was held at the Bed Lion Hotel , Banbury , on Monday the 26 th February , when a large number of the Brethren resident on the spot , and others from various parts of the Province , attended for the purpose of witnessing or taking part in the proceedings . The Lodge was opened at three o clock , when the retiring W . M . the Bro . Bev .

Vernon Blake presided . Bro . Calcutt was passed , and two candidates , Mr . Faulkner , of Deddington , and Mr . Lampitt , of Banbury , were initiated . The ceremony of installing the W . M . elect , Bro . Captain Bowyer , then took place , Bro . Blake fulfilling the duties in an impressive and admirable manner . On the conclusion of the ceremony , the W . M . addressed the Brethren , and besought their indulgence and support during his year of office .

The W . M .. - then appointed the following Brethren to be his Officers for the year ^ and invested them with the various insignia of office : —Bro . W . J . Birch , S . W . ; Bro . Hay ward , J . W . ; Bro . C . C . Dormer , S , D . ; Bro . J . Cooke , J . D . ; Bro . Bryden , Treas . ; Bro . J . B . Looker , Sec . ; Bro . Busher , Dir . of Cer . ; Bro . Calcutt , Organist ; Bro . Marge tts , I . G . ; Bro . Moss , Tyler . About six o ' clock the Brethren proceeded to the banquetrroom , where a . sumptuous entertainment , provided by the hostess , Mrs . Fowler , awaited them .. The variety and abundance of the viands , and the excellent manner in which all

were served up , reflected great credit on this establishment , and elicited the highest commendations . Additional zest was given to the entertainment by a bountiful supply of champagne , the gift of the W . M . Bro . Bowyer , and of his late S . W . Bro . B . W . Aplin . The dinner was succeeded by an elegant dessert , and the wines supplied on the occasion were of a superior character , and such as met with general approbation . The W . M . presided , and was supported by Bro . B . J . Spiers , P . G . S . B . ; Bro . Bev . ~ V . Blake ; Bro . Beech , P . M ., No . 460 ; Bros . W .

Thompson and J . Wyatt , P . M ., No . 425 ; Bro . T . Joy , W . M ., No , 702 ; Bro . W . W . Harrison , S . W ., No . 425 ; Bros . Birch , C . C . Dormer ; Atkinson , St . Edmund Hall ; Bond , Trinity College ; Stother , Magdalen Hall ; Codrington , Brasenose College ; Joseph Prior , of Woodstock ; B . W . Aplin , Bowell , Bryden Foot , Deptford ; Cooke , Scroggs , Kirby , Gardiner , Busher , Havers , Perry , Birch , jun ., Margetts , Coleman , G . Druce , Lampitt , Faulkner , Joseph Plowman , & c ., & c .

On the removal of the cloth , the W . M . proposed " The Queen and the Craft "—• " The G . M . of England , the Earl of Zetland . " In proposing the " healths of the Dep . G . M . of England , the Earl of Yarborough , and the other Grand Officers , " the W . M . begged to couple with the toast the name of Bro . Spiers , P . G . S . B ., who , he remarked , was ri 6 t only a most skilful and zealous Mason , but might be regarded as the great promoter and benefactor of Masonry in this Province ( loud cheers ); .

Bro . Spiers responded to the toast , and observed that the most gratifying circumstance which had occurred in this Province , and , he might add , in the G . L . was the welcoming among the Grand Officers the distinguished Bro ., Captain Bowyer , who so ably presided over the Lodge at the present moment . Although the announcement had not been officially made , yet Bro . Bowyer was at that time Prov , G . M . of Oxfordshire , for four days ago he ( Bro , Spiers ) saw his patent signed by the G . M ., the Dep . G . M ., and the G . Sec .., and it only waited some formal proceeding to constitute hini de facto Prov . G . M . of this Province ( much cheering ) . The compliment paid to that Brother was enhanced by the fact that

the appointment had been made at the earliest possible moment ( cheers ) . Although this Province had not been accustomed to have Grand Officers , it now possessed two very energetic ones in Bro . Bowyer and Bro . Moore . He ( Bro . Spiers ) had had great pleasure in being present at the consecration and foundation of the Cherwell Lodge , and the success which had attended it , and the important position which it had attained in four years , were the best proofs that they had laid their lines carefully , and acted wisely in selecting Banbury as the site for a new Masonic Lodge . They had been fortunate in having such good Masters to preside over them , anol such efficient officers to carry on the , worta but , as iii the