New Hall At Okehampton.

elect , Bro . A . Amand J . W ., W . Bro . Chas . Fletcher P . M . Treas ., W . Bro . Charles Piper P . M . P . P . G . D . D . C , W . Bro . Edwards Secretary , and Bro . Alfred Bray ( trustees ); Archibald J . Lucas , F . S . I ., Architect ; John Sleeman , Builder . " The Acting Prov . G . M . said : As they had just heard in

church an address pointing out to them their duties as Masons , it was not his intention to say anything on that head , but he could not refrain from congratulating the Brethren on being able to see their way clear to build for themselves a local habitation . In his judgment , and he spoke now with nearly

forty years experience of Freemasonry , there was nothing that marked the progress of Masonry in this country more than the number of Masonic Flails that of late years had sprung

up . It used to be , and still was sometimes , the custom of Masons to meet in Hotels ; but , without saying anything derogatory to the utility or the management of Hotels , he was one of those who considered that a Hotel was not the best

place for the Brethren to meet . In the first place , it was often difficult to obtain there the privacy necessary for the proper carryinp- out of their work ; and , secondly , it placed the weaxer Brethren in the way of temptation , which it were better for themselves and for the Craft that they should be spared .

Therefore , he considered it one of the best things that could happen when a Lodge found itself in a position to build a house for itself . It , moreover , showed the outside world that they were confident of the enduring character of their work .

Indeed , he thought the occasion of so much importance that he willingly conceded the use of Masonic clothing in the procession . The building of a Lodge Room was a great occasion in the history of a Lodge , and he again heartily congratulated the Okehampton Lodge on the event of that day .

After the ceremony the procession was reformed , and returned to the Lodge Room . On arrival at the Town Hall the Mayor and Corporation took their leave .

The Masons returned to the Church Room , where the W . M . Rev . T . W . Brown proposed a vote of thanks to the Acting Prov . G . M ., the Prov . Grand Chaplain , and the Vicar of the parish .

Afterwards Bro . William Pollard was installed W . M ., and in-ested his Officers .

A banquet was held in the evening at the White Hart Hotel . The W . M . presided , and there was a large attendance . Bro . Rev . R . Peek responded for the Grand Lodge of England . He remarked that his dear friend , their Junior Warden Bro . Saulez , who they had heard to their consternation

was about to leave them , had often invited him to their Lodge , and he was very glad to have been with them . He congratulated them on having introduced into their ceremony that day

the service at church . By that hearty service they had shown the world that Masons were neither ungodly nor mere bon vivants ; but thev had shown that there was among Masons a genuine reverence of the Great Architect of the Universe .

Bro . Edwards gave the Prov . G . Master and the Prov . G . Lodge . Lord Northcote , he said , had done much to raise the status of Freemasonry , and they rejoiced in the high position he occupied in the empire . Lord Northcote had promised to lay their corner-stone , but that work had been worthildone

y by his representative , Bro . Davie . Bro . Westlake was a member of G . Lodge , well known in the Province , and required no recommendation . In Bro . Lord they had with them one of the smartest Officers of the Province , and thev owed especial debt of gratitude also to Bro . Stocker Prov . G . Sec , for the

great trouble he had taken with the arrangements of that day . The Acting P . G . Master Bro . Davie , in reply , also spoke of the indebtedness of the Province to the Secretary and the Director of Ceremonies . Few Brethren , he ! said , had any conception of the work that devolved upon Bro . Stocker , in

connection with the sixty Lodges and the 3 , 000 members of the Province . He considered that one of the best services he had rendered the Province was when he suggested to Lord

Ebrington that Bro . Lord should be made permanent Director of Ceremonies of the Province . That was an Office that required experience , and as long as Bro . Lord held the position the ceremonial work of the Province would be carried

out as it ought to be . The health of the W . M . was proposed by the I . P . M . ( Bro . Rev . T . W . Brown ) , and the W . M ,, in responding , spoke of the

Founders of the Lodge , and especially regretted the absence of Bro , Pidsley . For the new Lodge Room they had now started to build they were greatly indebted to Bros . Piper and Edwards , assisted by Bro . Lucas . . Bro . the Rev . F . W . Saulez proposed the Past Masters of Lodge Obedience , He said he esteemed it a great honour

New Hall At Okehampton.

that , although he was leaving the nei g hbourhood , the W . M . had conferred on him the Office of Junior Warden . The proceedings of that day had been a great pleasure to him , especially that grand religious service in the Church of St . James . The I . P . M . said he had had a very happy year of office , and had initiated more candidates than had been initiated in

any previous year . Bro . Pierce also responded . Fie felt proud that he had introduced Bro . Ward Brown into the Lodge , and at the present position it had attained . Bro : Piper proposed " Visiting Brethren . " In doing so ,

he alluded to Bro . Brodie , who presided over the Lodge twentytwo years ago . He coupled with the toast the name of Bro . Russell , who , in reply , hoped that their new Lodge , which would be solemnly dedicated to Masonic purposes , would be reserved for Masonic purposes alone .

There is in England , and in other Masonic jurisdictions , a practice among almsgivers of recording on the back of petitioner ' s diploma or certificate of M . M . the amount of aid doled out . In some cases that have come under my notice the " certificate " has been defaced for the sake of half-a-crown .

The practice , to say the least , is not commendable . The entry , it will be argued , is a check to fradulent representation and to temptation , but it should be remembered that it is making a permanent record of the Brother ' s present distress , which may be a source of bitterness in after and , it may be ,

more prosperous years . There the recording of the aid given is insisted on , and it is insisted on notwithstanding protests ; the applicant has no redress , he must submit or go without the aid he so much needs . Lodges under the Scottish Constitution are , so far as I have been able to gather , free from this

practice of defacmg diplomas . I would commend to Provinces and Districts the system in vogue in the Glasgow Province , requiring an applicant first to apply to the Treasurer of the Provincial Grand Lodge Benevolent Fund , who supplies him

with a card on which is marked the amount of aid given . Possessed with this card he can apply to any Lodge in the Province , each recording the item contributed . — " The Mallet , " in " Glasgow Evening News . "

''A Sprig Of Acacia.''

''A SPRIG OF ACACIA . ''

fin HE Masons of Durham have been thrown into mourning JL by the death of their chief , Sir Iiedworth Williamson , Bart , who died at his residence , Whitburn Hall , Sunderland , on Sunday morning . The deceased , who was the eighth Baronet , was born in 1827 , at Florence , and in 1848 was

appointed Attache at the British Embassy at St . Petersburg , Two years later he was transferred to the Paris Embassy . In 1864 he was returned to Parliament for North Durham , which he continued to represent for ten years . In 1885 he was installed Provincial Grand Master of Durham , in

succession to the Marquis of Londonderry . He was married in 1862 to Elizabeth Jane Hay Liddell , third daughter of the third Earl of Ravensworth , who survives him . He is succeeded in the title by his son Hedworth , who was born in 1867 . He was an enthusiastic supporter of the Craft , and a

popular figure in many social circles . The funeral took place on Thursday afternoon at Whitburn , the family seat . The obsequies were the cause of a demonstration of the very widespread esteem in which the deceased was held in the north . The remains of Sir Hedworth were followed to the grave by a

large company , representative of all classes of the community , and the progress of the cortege from the Hall to the church , and thence to the family vault , was watched with respectful interest by a great crowd of people , including many from the neighbouring borough of Sunderland . The funeral was to

a very great . degree a Masonic one . The Brethren of the various Lodges of the Province assembled at the Whitburn Village School shortly before two o ' clock , and from thence they walked in procession to the Flail . The members of the Craft , who numbered about 300 , wore white gloves , and each had in his coat a sprig of acacia .

THE death of Bro . Charles Storey Woodhead , of Bradford , on Wednesday evening of last week , after a protracted illness , will come somewhat as a surprise to his more immediate friends . Bro . Woodhead had a marvellous

memory for coincidences , dates and personages appertaining to Bradford ' s earlier days ; hence he was generally most interesting company . Fie was initiated in the Lodge of Hope , No , 302 , on Whit Monday evening , 1859 ,