Monmouthshire.

tutions . Our lodges , he said , have increased from 723 in 1844 to 1 , 310 in 1869 . The number of certificates to newly-made Masons have increased from 1 , 584 to 7 , 000 per annum . The income of the Craft has increased in proportion , and that income amounted to over £ 38 , 000 in 1869 . Now , brethren ( continued the speaker ) there is no landmark that forbids the presence of ladies at our banquets , and I hope the time is near at hand when they shall grace every JIasonie table in the" land . AVorshipful

Master , I am proud to think it has been our good fortune to be honoured by having a gentleman of your position to preside over us , who is capable , Avilling , desirous , and anxious to work for the good of tho Craft . Before he sat down Bro . Pickford wished to mention a circumstance , which , although a matter of history , might not be generally known . He found that there % vas a Masonic lodge at Pontypool as early as 1752 . In that year Sir Robert de Cornwall was appointed Prov . G . JI . for the

comities of AA ' orcester , Gloucester , Monmouth , and Hereford . No . 160 , Hiram Lodge , was at Pontypoal , and its location was the Red Lion Inn . Doubtless some of the brethren Avould be able to throw further light on the subject . The I . P . M . proposed the next toast , ' viz ., « The AY . M . 1258 , " and spoke in terms of high commendation of tho manner in wliich Bro . Kennard had discharged his lodge duties , and the briht promise his conduct ga \ 'e of his Masonic future . He made

g especial allusion to Bro . Kennard as the probable Grand Master of this province , in accordance AA'ith the Kennard Lodge resolution on the minutes that day . Bro . Kennard , AA 7 . JL , acknOAvledged the compliment in a speech characterised by modesty and good sense . He fervently thanked those who bad so genially , so fraternally , rallied round him on the day of his installation . He evinced his enthusiasm for Masonry by proclaiming the fact that lie selected his officers

not because of seniority , but owing to their fitness for the posts assigned to them . The next toast proposed by the AV . JI . Avas that of '' The Installing Master , Bro . Thomas . " Bro . Kennard acknowledged the deep obligation of the Kennard Lodge to Bro . Thomas for 3 iis services as AV . M . in the first year of the lodge's existence . The speaker enlarged on the difficulties of acquiring the Masonic ritual , and exhorted the officers of the lodae to " gird up their

loins" and " quit themselves as men" iu the ensuing Masonic campaign at Pontypool . Before he sat down he had a pleasing duty to perform . Asa slight recognition of the services of Bro , B . Thomas a fund had been contributed Avlierewith a sen-ice of plate had been purchased , AA'hich the Kennard Lodge desired to present to Bro . Thomas . The AA' . JI . expressed his regret that the testimonial was not of more intrinsic value , but it Avas generally understood that Bro . Tnomas desired that the Masonic

testimonial should be a testimonial to his wife as Avell as to himself . He therefore selected a tea and coffee service , on Avhich ivas inscribed " Presented to Brother Bartholomew Thomas , P . JI ., by the members of the Kennard Lodge , 1 , 258 , as a slight recognition of his services as their first AV . M . 20 th June , 1870 . " Bro . B . Thomas most feelingly returned thanks . In the course of his remarks he said that during the past year he had initiatedas Jlaster of the Kennard Lodgetwenty-three good men

, , and true . He had also been Jlaster of the Silurian , and , taking collectively the initiations during his JIasonie experience , he could say that he had initiated as many candidates as years he had lived in the world . He concluded by reiterating his unfeigned thanks . " The Lodges of Monmouthshire , " proposed by Bro . Demay , wns responded to by Bro . Gosden , Abergavenny .

Bro . Griffiths , S . VV ., proposed "The A'isitors , " to which Bro . Ware ( AV . M . of the Bute Lodge ) , Bro . Chambers ( AV . JI . Isca 683 ) , Bro Demay 120 , Bro . T . AVilliams 683 , Bro . Davies , Abersychan , and a " brother from Leominster , all P . JIs ., returned thanks . Bro . II . J . Gratte , as S . W . of the Silurian , responded on behalf of the AV . M . of that lodge , Avho was unavoidably absent . Referring to Bro . Pick-ford ' s remarks as to the antiquity of

Masonry at Pontypool , Bro . Davies said that he had bought the furniture of a JIasonie lodge at Pontypool for Brecon , and that furniture now remained at Brecon . It might still be proved that Pontypool Avas the mother lodge of the province . By Bro . Hellier : "The Officers and Brethren of the Kennard Lodge , 1 , 258 , " responded to by Bros . Griffith and AVoolley . By Bro . Thomas AVilliams : " The newly-initiated Brethren , viz ., Bro . William Richards , Garndiil ' aitir ; liro . Mitchell , 1 , 258 ; Bros . C . D . Phillips , A . P . Williams , and AV . H . Pickford , 471 . "

Monmouthshire.

The occasion ivas remarkable , inasmuch as three " LeAvises , " the sons of Master Masons , were received as Entered Apprentices at the same time . Tbe succeeding toasts ivere , "The Secretary , " "Tbe A ' ocalists and Instrumentalists , " "Tbe Ladies , " in connection with which toast the W . M . took occasion to acknoAvledge tbe handsome kindness of Jlrs . Leigh in sending the choicest plants in her conservatory to grace the banquet hall . Bro . Jacobs responded .

"The Health of Bro . Demay , and thanks to him for his handsome present to tho lodge . " "The Masonic Charities" Avas eloquently given by Bro . Titus LoAvis , after which the Tyler ' s toast , " To all Distiossed Masons , " biought the evening to a close . The harmony of the evening ivas greatly enhanced by some capital songs and recitations by the brethren .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

LANCASHIRE ( AVEST ) . ULTERSTOKE . — Consecration of Furness Chapter ( No . 995 ) . — The consecration of this new chapter took place at the Temple , Theatre-street , Ulverstonc , on Tuesday , the jK ^ th ult . A petition from resident Comps . Case , Pearson , Dodgson , and James , l . fiving heen presented to the Supreme Grand Principals Earl de Grey and Ri Earl Carnarvonand Lord de Tableya charter

pon , , , Avas granted to be attached to the Furness Lodge , and the ceremony of consecration was fixed for Tuesday . Provincial Grand Superintendent Sir Thomas Fermor Hesketh , Bart ., M . P ., appointed Comp . Thomas AA ' ylie , Prov . G . Reg ., as presiding officer for the ceremony , Avho Avas assisted by Comps . Hamer , Prov . G . Treas . ; Allpass , ProwG . Sec ; Armstrong , P . Prov . Soj . ; Robert Wylie , Prov . Dir . of Cers . ; LaldlOAV , Prov . G . S . and P . Z . 216 ;

Dr . Johnson , JI . E . Z . 216 . The ceremony of consecration wns conducted very impressively and effectively by those appointed to that duty , the usual formalities being observed with the greatest niceties , and the ritual rigidly adhered to . The musical performances were admirably sustained by the visiting companions from Liverpool , directed by Comp . Skcaf , Prov . G . Org . At the conclusion , Comps . J . Case , AV . M . 995 , was installed as JI . E . Z . of the chapter ; AV . Doddof 129 Kendalas H . ; James

, , , Porter , AV . M . 343 , Preston , as J . ; R . James , Sec . 995 , as Scribe E . ; R . Pearson , S . AV . 995 , as Prim Soj . ; 11 . Dodgson , S . D ., as Treas . After these proceedings , no less than twelve candidates were proposed for exaltation at the next meeting The following companions were also present , and took part in the proceedings : —Companions David Jones , P . Z ., 216 , Lh'erpoo ]; II . Robinson , __ l . _ i . _ t _ ., 314 , Preston ; Chas .

Hamell , 203 , Liverpool ; Thomas AVelch , 241 and 1 , 086 , Liverpool ; John Holme , S . E ., 129 , Kendal ; Henry Rauthmell , 129 , Kendal ; Jesse Banning , 333 , 310 , 823 ; James Caroline , 62 ; P . Ball , 203 , Prov . G . Janitor ; T . A . Smith , 314 ; Jos . Brett , 314 , and others whose names we were not able to obtain . The business being over , the companions dined together at the Queen's Hotela very excellent repast being served bBro . Clayton

, y , Avhich did credit to his superior catering . The usual loyal and JIasonie toasts were given , n-. id everything passed oil" in the greatest harmony and good feeling . The companions sojourned at an early hour , highly delighted with the very interesting and nstruetive meeting .

Masonic Festivities.

MASONIC FESTIVITIES .

SOUTH WALES ( EASTERN DIVISION ) ,

One of the most pleasant and in every way agreeable days eA'er spent by the brethren of this province Avas enjoyed by them on Tuesday last , tho 28 th ult . It having been the custom of some of the lodges to celebrate Avhat they hava termed "Eural Festii-als " during the summer months , it ivas thought that a combined action on the part of the various lodges might lead

to a very agreeable reunion ; and accordingly , upon the day mentioned , the first provincial gathering took place under the presidency of the W . M . of the Indefatigable Lodge ( No . 237 ) , Swansea , to whom is due the utmost credit for making and carrying out all arrangements connected with an excursion ivhieh resulted in a perfect success .