The Masonic Mirror.

^ The Prov . Grand Jlaster then said , "In the name of the Great Jehovah , to whom be all honour and glory , I do solemnly dedicate this hall to universal benevolence !" Jiusical response , " Glory be to God on high ! " ivith tho grand honours . The Entered Apprentices and Fellow Crafts having been readmitted , the Prov . Grand Chaplain offered up the Consecration Prayer , the brethren all standing .

Jiusical response , " So mote it be !" The Prov . Grand JIaster then seasoned the Lodge with salt , the Prov . Grancl Chaplain reading Leviticus ii . 13 ; and the Prov . Graud Jlaster then declared the hall duly consecrated and dedicated according to antient form . A highly interesting and eloquent oration on Jlasonry was then delivered by Bro . Picton , Prov . G . Chaplain , which , at the unanimous request of the Prov . Grancl Lodge , the reverend brother has consented

to publish , together with bis sermon . The ceremony concluded with the foHovsmg anthem , composed for the occasion by Bro . Lcilir , P . Prov . G . Org . " The glorious majesty of the Lord our God be upon us : prosper thou the work of our hands upon us , 0 , prosper thou onr handy work . " Psalm xe . 17 . This and the preceding anthem were highly pleasing ancl effective compositions , and wo are gratified to learn that Bro . Lohr is about to publish themdedicated by permission to the Riht Hon . Earl Howe

, g , Q . C . U ., Prov . G . JI ., as they will be found very suitable for similar celebrations . The ordinary business of the Prov . Grancl Lodgo was then resumed . The Prov . Grand JIaster announced that the office of Provincial Junior Grand Warden having become vacant by the decease of Lord Ferrers , he , on the 30 th May last , had conferred the appointment on Bro . Edward JIaimnatt , his lordship ' s successor in the Mastership of Lodge No . IOSI .

The following resolution , moved by tho Prov . Grancl Master ancl seconded by the D . Prov . Grand JIaster , was carried unanimously , his lordship being requested to communicate it to the Countess Ferrers : — " That this Grand Lodge cannot avoid taking the earliest opportunity of recording the deep regret they feel at the premature and unexpected

death of their late Provincial Junior Grand AA'arden , the Earl Ferrersengaged within a few days of his decease in the duties of his office . Connected as he was with the county and with the Craft by a long line of ancestors , his kindness of heart and amiability of manners will long survive in the recollection of the brethren of the Provincial Grancl Lodge . " A report from the Building Committee was then presented , which set forth that the Committee having brought their labours to a close , so fin-,

at least , as the erection of the Hall was concerned , had to report that £ 610 had been contributed by the brethren , and that the deficiency on the building account was £ 3 10 s . Id . An estimated sum of .- £ 150 was required for furnishing and decorating the interior , ancl the brethren of the two local Lodges generally hacl liberally supported the undertaking , but several members of the Order who , from their social and JIasonie position in the province , it had been fully anticipated would have contributed liberally , had not yet responded to the appeal made to them ;

though , as the scheme hacl been proved to be practicable , it was now earnestly hoped that they would come forward and secure for it a firm basis . The thanks of the fraternity were clue to several brethren for personal services or gifts in addition to liberal subscriptions , and especially to Bro . Jlorris for his gratuitous professional services in the conveyance of the property , and in advising the committee ; to Bro . Brewin , for raising a separate subscription for additional stonework on the front of the building , and for personally defraying the cost of fitting the gas piping throughout the interior ; to Bros . Haxby and Underwood , for a handsome bronze chandelier for the dining-room ; . and to Bro . Broadbent . for

the polished alabaster window-shafts , from his quarries at Humberstone , wliich form so elegant a feature in the street-front of the edifice . A bust ofthe late worthy Provincial Grand JIaster , Sirl' . G . Fowke , Bart ., hacl been presented through the AA ' . JI . of the Fowke Lodge of JIark JIasters ( Bro . Kelly ) , by the present Baronet ; and several brethren had each undertaken to present a bust of some eminent Freemason , for the decoration of the hall . Au estimate of the annual income and expenditure was then given , with suggestions as to the amount of rent to be paid by the several Lod

ges and Chapter meeting in the hall , and for present grants from their funds ( wliich are for the first time called upon ) towards the expense of furnishing , & c . Reference was made to the probable source of revenue arising from the purveyor ' s department connected with the social gatherings after Lodge meetings , on which subject some valuable information was given from the accounts of the Lodge of Truth , No . 763 , Huddersfield , since its removal to the hall erected by the members iu 1855 , from which it appeared that during the years 1850 ,

1857 , and 1858 , an average profit of nearly £ 40 per annum had been derived from this source . The report concluded with a balance sheet of the capital account , and a list of the contributors ; and it was suggested that their names and the amount of their donations should be placed ou a tablet in some part of the edifice , in accordance with a suggestion made some time ago in an editorial article in the Freemasons' Magazine , space being reserved for the addition of the names of future donors . The report was unanimously adopted , and ordered to be printed . A permanent committee of management for building was sanctioned , consisting of the Prov . G . M ., the D . Prov . G . JI ., the AVorshipful JIaster ,

the JI . E . Z ., and two members to bo elected from each body . A grant of . i' 10 was made towards tho expense of furnishing , and an annual rent of £ 10 agreed to bo paid by the Prov . Grand Lodge for the use ofthe hall . It may be here mentioned , that . £ 85 was at once raised towards the £ 150 required , Earl Howe giving . £ ' 25 , Bros . Kelly , D . Prov . G . JI ., Clephan , and Brewin £ !> each , whilst Bros . Haxby and Underwood made up the deficiency on the building fund , to which the latter brother had already contributed £ 35 .

Favourable reports were then presented from the private Lodges in the province , from which it appeared that during the past year , there hacl been nine initiations in the Knights of Malta Lodge , No . 58 , Hinckley , which has nineteen subscribing members ; that four initiations had taken place in St . John ' s Lodge , No . 34 S , Leicester , which has forty-four members ; that in the John of Gaunt Lodge , No . 706 , Leicester , numbering thirty-seven members , seven initiations had taken place ; ancl that during the short time in which the Ferrers ancl Ivanhoe Lodge , No .

1081 , Ashby-de-la-Zoueh , has been at work , prior to its consecration , ( wliich is expected to take place on the 5 th October ) , there have heen eight initiations , and two joinings , and that the Lodge numbers twenty subscribing members . The Provincial Grand Treasurer ' s accounts were then passed , and Bro . Underwood was unanimously reelected treasurer , and thanks voted to him for his past services . The Provincial Grancl Officers were appointed , ancl invested according

to the list which appeared in our last week ' s number . Thanks were voted to Bro . Goodyer for his services as Prov . G . Secretary during the past three years , to the Rev . Robert Burnaby for the use of his church , to the Rev . JBro . Picton for his excellent sermon , and to Bro . Lohr for his musical services during the ceremony of consecration . The letter addressed to the Provincial Grand Master on the 18 th April last , by the Grand Secretary , by command of the JI . AV . the Grand

JIaster , the pamphlet on "Provincial Organization , " to which it referred , ancl the letter of Bros . Lyall and Symonds , dated 1 st June , were considered ; when , on the suggestion of the Prov . G . JI ., the subject was ordered to be deferred for the present , it being felt that in consequence ofthe large amount which had recently been contributed by the Leicestershire brethren , and the further expenditure to which , they were committed in connection with the JIasonie Hall , it was inexpedient at this time to press upon them the claims of any other object , however laudable , and , under other circumstances , worthy of support . The Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed in due form , and with solemn prayer .

Tho brethren adjourned to the banquet , which took place at a later hour in the hall , ancl at which the noble Prov . G . JI . presided with all his accustomed urbanity ancl efficiency , notwithstanding the effects of the severe indisposition from which he bad been suffering , and of an accident which rendered it necessary ior one arm to be supported by a sling . The appearance of the room when arranged for the dinner was exceedingly brilliant , the tables being decorated with a profusion of fine flowers , antique tankards , & c , with Bro . JBoyer ' s usual excellent taste , ancl the

walls adorned with portraits of several of the former Grand JIasters of the Order , and of the province , of the D . Prov . G . JI ., ancl other brethren , together with the Lodge banners , and that of the Prov . G . JI ., which surmounted the throne . A fat buck and a plentiful supply of game were presented by his lordship . After dinner " Non nobis Domine" was sung , and an antient custom of our Anglo-Saxon forefathers was , as usual , commemorated , by the introduction of the loving-cups belonging to the Knihts of JIalta and John

g of Gaunt Lodges . The Provincial Grand JIaster " drank to all , " and tho cups passed round the table . The usual loyal ancl JIasonie toasts were given , alternating with numerous glees , duets , ancl songs . Bro . Lohr presiding at the piano-forte . Iu proposing " The Army and Navy , " Lord Howe alluded to the late disastrous news from China , and expressed the great pain he felt ,

bearing the name he did , to hear of the loss of several of our vessels ot ^ war . The toast was responded to by Bro . Lieut . Barber , of the John of Gaunt Lodge , who has just returned from India on sick leave , and wlw expressed his regret that he was the only representative of the army present . Upon this , Bro . Brewin , the Senior Lieutenant of the Leicester A ' ohmteer Rifle Corps , recently formed , sprung to his feet , and called upon his brethren in arms to arise , when a considerable portion of the brethren stood at " attention , " ( one fourth of the whole corps are the

JIasons ) , whilst their commanding officer stated that he thought army was very numerously represented , and , after some humorous remarks , observed that the ivhole British army were volunteers , for , thank God , we have no conscription , and stated his belief that , if unfortunately the volunteer rifle corps should ever have to repel an invader , they would be found ready to do their duty to their country , no less than the regular arm } -. The DProvGrand JIastorin proposing the better health of Earl

. . , Howe , observed that if the individual , whose health he was about to propose , were entirely unknown to the brethren , or one with whose character they were but slightly acquainted , he should regret that the toast ha " had not fallen into the hands of one more competent than himself to do justice to its merits , but , fortunatel y for him , it would be quite unnecessary for him to dilate upon the many excellencies which entitled that brother to their respect and esteem , as he was one universal 1 ) '