Devon Educational Fund.

It was decided on the motion of Bro . Gregory , seconded by Bro . Flocking , that a meeting 'should be held in October and that two candidates should be elected on the Fund . This meeting will be held at Plymouth . It was also decided to give a concert in Plymouth Guildhall in November or December next , on behalf of the Institution , and a Committee was appointed to make the necessary preliminary arrangements .

Berks And Oxon.

BERKS AND OXON .

THE annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons is appointed to be held on \\ l ednesday , 19 th inst , at the Masonic Hall , Windsor , when it is expected the Prov . G . M . M . Viscount Valentia , M . P ., will preside .

New Hall At Calstock.

NEW HALL AT CALSTOCK .

W HEN in April 1887 , the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , as Provincial Grand Master of Cornwall , consecrated the new Cotehele Lodge , No . 2166 , at Calstock , not even the most sanguine among its promoters could have hoped that it would have met with such marked and continuous success as has been the case . But the interest

of the members in Masonic work has grown as the years have rolled by , and their numbers have increased to such an extent that the Lodge Room in which they have been " cribb'd , cabin'd , and confin'd" fou so many years has

proved altogether inadequate to the growing requirements of the members . This was long since foreseen , and preparation was accordingly made for the expansion which sooner or later had to be provided for .

It has now been determined to erect a new Masonic Hall , at a cost , including the site , of -nearly £ 800 , and the foundation stone of the new building was laid with full Masonic ceremonial in the presence of a large number of Brethren as well as of the general public , ' lhe Provincial

Grand Master was unfortunately unable to attend , but in a letter expressing regret at his absence his lordship wrote : " I hope the building will proceed rapidly , and that I may have the pleasure of being present when the Lodge first meets within its walls . " In the noble earl ' s absence the

foundation stone was laid by Bro . P . Colville Smith Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Cornwall P . G . D . of England , who was accompanied by Bro . Bernard F . Edyvean Prov . Grand Secretary . A large number of visiting Brethren were present from Plymouth , Devonport , Tavistock , Saltash , and other places .

The Brethren first assembled at the Wesleyan School Room , which had been fitted up for the purposes of a Lodge Room , and under the presidency of Bro . H . Down , who was the first W . M . of Cotehele Lodge , some preliminary business was done . Then a procession was formed , and ,

headed by the Flarrow-barrow brass band , marched to the site of the new Hall . Those marching in the procession included four Lewises carrying the Bible and the square

and compasses on a velvet cushion . On their arrival at the site the Brethren formed a hollow square , and all joined in singing " God bless the Prince of Wales . " Bro . Major Shanks , acting as Chaplain , offered prayer .

The D . P . G . M ., prior to laying the foundation stone , briefly addressed tire assembled Brethren . He said they were met as true and lawful Masons , true and faithful to the laws of their country , and bound by solemn obligations to raise useful and handsome buildings for the promotion

of Freemasonry m its truest and best form . They had , as part of their Institution , though hidden from the eyes . of others , secrets which might not be revealed , but which were true and honourable , and in no sense repugnant to the laws of God or man . They were given to Masons in ancient times

m love and honour , and having been faithfully transmitted to them it _ was their duty to transmit them to posterity . Unless their Craft ' was good and their calling honourable Freemasonry would not have existed for so many generations , nor would it have reckoned so many illustrious

Brethren within its borders . They were about to erect a building for the benefit of the Lodge . at Calstock and to the honour and glory of the Most Hi gh , and he prayed that God might bless the building , and that the work done within it might ever redound to the credit and honour of Freemasonry , The Chaplain having offered another prayer , the stone

New Hall At Calstock.

was lowered in its place , after Bro . Down had deposited coins in the cavity beneath , and the D . P . G . M . declared it to be well and truly laid ; corn , wine , and oil being placed upon the stone with the accustomed ceremonies . The foundation stone is a very handsome piece of polished granite , and on its face is the inscription :

Cotehele Lodge , No . 2166 . This stone was laid 21 st August 1900 , by

W . BRO . P . COLVILLE SMITH D . P . G . M . of Cornwall and P . G . D . of England . Presented and engraved by Bro . John Eade D . C The procession ( having been reformed , the Brethren returned to the School Room , where the four Lewises who carried the Bible in the procession—Masters Reginald

Bowhay , Reginald Smale , George Langsford , and Edward N . Alford—were each presented with a Bible by the D . P . G . M ., who expressed a hope that they would take that Book as their guide in life , and never fail to act according to its precepts .

Bro . Down , in the name of the Lodge , then thanked the D . P . G . M . for his presence , and for the admirable manner in which he had performed the ceremony of laying the stone . He also asKed his acceptance of the trowel and other implements used in the performance of the ceremony .

Bro . Colville Smith briefly returned thanks , and thanks were also accorded to Bros . Bernard Edyvean Prov . G . S ., and Broad , of Camborne , for their presence . In acknowledging this vote both Brethren made an earnest appeal on behalf of the Cornish Masonic Charities .

The Lodge was then closed , and a large number of Brethren afterwards partook of an excellent luncheon provided at the Tamar Hotel by Bro . Herring .

New Hall At Okehampton.

NEW HALL AT OKEHAMPTON .

A LARGE gathering at Okehampton on Monday assisted at the laying the corner-stone of a new Freemasons ' Hall . Lodge Obedience , No . 1753 , was founded on Monday , 26 th August 1878—just 22 years ago—the first W . M . being the late vicar of Okehampton Rev . C . W . Flolley . It was

largely assisted by Exeter Brethren , and endeavours were early made to secure a suitable site for a Freemasons' Hall . A piece of land , known as Nathan ' s Plot , at the corner of the road to the station , was fixed upon , and negotiations were entered into with the Okehampton United Charities with a

view to purchase . After many delays , possession of the site was obtained , and plans for the buildings were prepared by Mr . J . Archibald Lucas , F . S . L , Exeter . The total cost of the building is estimated to be from £ 650 to £ 700 . The style

is to be Renaissance , and the building will include a wellproportioned' Lodge Room , with open-timbered roof , and reception and retiring rooms . The whole is to be completed by May next .

The Lodge met in the Church Room to receive the Acting Provincial Grand Master Bro . G . C . Davie P . G . D . Eng ., who had undertaken to lay the corner-stone . There was a very large attendance of Brethren . The Acting Prov . G . M . ana his Officers having been duly received , a procession was formed under the direction of Bro . J . R . Lord Prov . G . D . C .

They proceeded first to the Town Hall , where they met the Mayor and Corporation , and then to St . James ' s Chapel , where a service was conducted by the Vicar Bro . the Rev . F ,

Wilberforce Saulez , and a sermon was preached by the Rev . C . Gordon Browne Prov . G . Chap . Bro . Browne ' s text was Psalm cxxvii ., 1 and 2 , " Except the Lord build the house their labour is but lost that build it . "

After service the procession was reformed and marched to the site for the ceremony of laying the stone . After prayer by the Prov . G . Chaplain , the architect handed a silver trowel to the Acting Prov . G . M ., who laid the stone in Masonic form . The stone was inscribed : — Lodge Obedience , 1753 . This corner-stone was laid by

W . BRO . G , C . DAVIE Grand Deacon of England , Acting Prov . Grand Master of Devonshire , on Installation Day , 27 th August igoo ; W . Bro Rev , Thomas Ward-Brown W . M ,. Bro , W . Pollard S . W . W . M . -