Notices Of Meetings.

NOTICES OF MEETINGS .

CRAFT . CONSECRATION OF THE DOWNSHIRE LODGE , No . 2437 .

1 T haa often been suggested that a iiasonic Lodge shonld bo established at Wokingham , bnt it is only recently that steps have been taken to carry the idea into effect . One thing which probably stood in the way was the small number of Freemasons who are resident in Wokingham . The number ia still very meagre , but tho new Lodge , whioh waa conaeorated on Saturday , the 17 th ult ., seems likely to very soon have a fair share of members . The Downshire Lodge , is appropriately named , aa a former Marquis of Downshire was the Provincial Grand Master of Berks and Buoka .

What also makes the name suitable is that Lord Arthur Hill , M . P ., the first Master of the Lodge , is a member of the Downshire family , Tho ceremony of consecration was performed on Saturday , by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Berkshire , Bro . John Thornhill Morland , M . A , who has been in charge of the Province since the death of the Dnke of Clarence the Provincial Grand Master . Tho

Lodge was held in the Town Hall , whioh had been handsomely arranged for the occasion , and in whioh tho brethren will in future meet , on the third Saturday in every alternate month . Tho warrant of the Graud Lodge was granted by tho Prince of Wales tho Grand Master , tn the petition of the following founders , such application being recommended by tho Officers of Greyfriars Lodge , Beading ,

and the Depnty Provincial Grand Master : —Bros . Lord Arthur Hill , M . P ., P . G . M . Down P . M . 66 , Honry Baker J . W . I 860 , Alexander C . A . Hiyorty P . P . G . J . D . Snrrey P . M . and Secretary 1014 , Henry Creed P . P . G . Registrar Berks and Bucks P . M . 1101 , William Simpson Jackson P . M . 1564 , James Mark Parsons W . M . 1564 , John Samnel Tnrner S . W . 1044 , George Crammer Treasurer 1360 , George

West Fortescue 1585 , Frank Lowe 104 , Honry George Pomell 340 , John R , Ratter 1360 , Francis A . Wells P . G . Steward Berks I . P . M . 1899 , Francis J . Ferguson P . P . G . S . W . Berks P . M . 414 , T . L . J . Moncrioff A . D . C . 1044 , and Frank R . Hall P . P . G . D . C . P . M . 340 There was a large attendance of visiting brethren , including Bros . John O . Carter P . P . G . S . Warden P . M . 209 , John Tomkins P . P . G ,

Warden P . M . 945 , George W . Webb P . M . 2043 , J . M . Gnilding Chaplain 1101 , Edward Margrett P . P . G . S . W . P . M . 1101 , C . Stephens P . G . Treasurer P . M . 414 , Thomas Cooke jnn . P . G . R . and P . M . 2043 , H . Sadler Grand Tyler , Thomas P . Stewart W . M . 1101 , R . T . Hermon-Hodgo , John W . Martin P . G . S . 414 , E . K . Purnell P . G . S . B . Berks 1899 , G . H . Stubington P . P . G . Assistant Sec ,

Secretary 2043 , S . Jopp W . M . 1899 , William G . Millar W . M . 414 , Oswald Ball S . W . 1899 , W . J . Garriok Ridgway 681 , Arthur Welch P . P . G . R . P . M . 1101 , C . E . Hewett S . W . 2043 , 0 . F . Hawker 112 , William Ferguson P . M . 1101 , S . G . Kirchoffer P . M . 1899 , William Hiekia P . M . 1101 , Henry Taylor P . P . G . O . 586 , George May W . M . 771 , F . H . Horsoroft late 211 , E . Dalzell P . M . 2000 , F . W . A . Sarjeant

1101 , G . M . Challenor 946 , Frank Baker P . M . 1206 , Geo . H . Morland 945 , A . H . Apled P . M . 209 , Charles D . Hams P . M . 209 , R . R . Monger W . M . 1044 , C . J . Powell S . D . 136 , W . George Boswell 1963 , Hngh Doherty 51 , James Strong P . M . 1692 , George T . Telerith J . D . 1043 , T . Sawyer 1714 , W . H . Kidgell Steward 1101 , 0 . Gibbs 1360 , Edward Curtis 834 , F . Ryman Hall P . M . 340 , A . Carter P . M . 1044 . The

Deputy Provincial Grand Master appointed the following Officers to officiate pro tem : —Bros . J . Tomkins as S . W ., S . G . Kirchoffer as J . W ., Rev . J . M . Guilding as Chaplain , J . W . Martin as Secretary , T . P . Stewart as Dir . of Cers ., and W . Hickie as I . G . The Deputy Provincial Grand Maater stated tho objects of the gathering , after whioh the Chaplain gave an impressive oration , in the course of

which he reminded the brethren of their responsibilities in setting forth the principles of the groat institntion which Masons believed had conferred auoh inestimable blessings on mankind , and whioh had before it a most beneficent future . Operative Masons would tell them that they should lay their foundations deep and sure if they were to be permanent and secure , and they as Speculative Masons

should aot on the same principle . A Lodge might be described as a Masonio temple . Symbolically it represented to them the world , whioh was primarily the . temple of God— " Heaven ia Thy throne and earth is Thy footstool . " A temple was a place set apart for the contemplation and meditation of divine truth , and a Lodge reminded them whenever they entered it of the wisdom and power and

providence of the Great Architect of the Universe . They might go a step fnrther and say , that a Lodge represented the ark of tho covenant , whioh was erected by Bezaleel on lines prescribed by God Himself , and whioh Solomon , their first Grand Master , made the pattern of that mighty and wonderful structure , the first temple at Jerusalem . A Lodge represented to a brother that he himself was a temple of

God , and that whenever he entered the portals of the Lodge he must lay aside all mean and base and selfish thoughts and remember that God had made of one blood all the nations of the earth . It seemed to him that that waa the apirit in whioh they should regard the Lodge which waa to be consecrated and officially formed that afternoon , and if it waa governed and conducted in that apirit and on

those principles he folt convinced that it wonld be a blessing to its membera and an honour to the Craft . Their Lodge , too , must be a temple of fraternal concord ; that seemed to him to be the great witness whioh their Order had been raised np to promote in thia world . A Mason mnst be a perpetual witness of the con-Fraternity

of tho human race ; he had not to concern himself about distinctions of creed or race or class , or about those clashing and conflicting interests which in this world must to some extent exist , or about any political differences ; the one question before him was , " I care not what viewa yoa hold upon those points . Are you a seeker after truth , ara yoa a lover of justice and righteousness , and charity and

Notices Of Meetings.

pence ? If so then your heart is my heart and I am ready to give thee my hand . " Homo homini lupus was the bitter sarcasm of Hobbes , Homo homini wipes might be taken aa the principle of modern life , but to tho Mason the law of sympathy waa snpreme , Homo homini frater . They should also make their Lodge not only one of fraternal concord but of practical benevolence . That waa the

golden rnle of the Masonio Craft and tho Lodge must be moribund aud useless if it contributed nothing to soothe the sorrows or relieve the necessities of others . Their Lodge must also be a temple of wisdom and moral instruction . The Deputy Provincial Grand Master then consecrated and dedicated the Lodge according to ancient custom , and installed Bro . Lord Arthur Hill as the first Worshipful

Master . The other Officers were invested , aa follow : —Bros . Francis Ferguson I . P . M ., Henry Baker S . W ., A . C . A . Higerty J . W ., D . N . Heron Treasurer , Henry Creed Secretary , T . J . Monorieff Assistant Secretary , Harry G . Powell S . D ., J . W . Parsons J . D ., F . R . Wells Dir . oi Cera ., G . W . Fortescue Assistant Dir . of Cers ., J . S . Tavener Inner Guard , George Crammer and Frank Lowe Stewards , Stevens

Tyler . After the Lodge , the brethren dined together at the Rose Hotel , a richerchi repast being served by Mr . and Mrs . Churchman . On the removal of the cloth , the toast of the Queen and the Craft was given from the ohair and duly honoured . In giving the toast of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales M . W . G . M ., the Earl of Lathom Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Mount Edgonmbe Deputy

Grand Master , and the other Grand Officers Present and Past , the W . M . said the Prince of Wales was a most excellent Grand Matter . Whatever his Royal Highness took up he did well , and worked with that zeal and assiduity which every one admired . Tho Grand Officers were well known and esteemed by the brethren . The Consecrating Officer , the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , and the

Provincial Grand Officers Present and Past were next toasted , the Worshipful Master remarking that ho was very much struck with the way in whioh the Consecrating Officer performed the ceremony that afternoon , ably assisted by the Provincial Grand Chaplain , and the other Provincial Grand Officers . Bro . Morland , in reply , said it gave him special pleasure to aot as Consecrating Officer , for the first

time , and wished the new Lodge with its estimable Master every prosperity . The Immediate Past Master ( Bro . Ferguson ) then gave the toast of the evening , the Worshipful Master Lord Arthur Hill , in whom he aaid they had a brother known throughout Great Britain and Ireland for the services he had rendered to the State as well as to the Craft , while locally he was well known for hia good

fellowship and for the interest he took in the good old town of Wokingham in particular and Berkshire generally . The Downshire Lodge was indeed fortunate in having for its first Master a brother who was so distinguished and so well qualified to fill the Master's chair , and they might with confidence look forward to a brilliant future for the Lodge . He hoped the W . M . would shortly have the

pleasure of seeing his nephew , Lord Downshire , initiated into the Craft . The W . M ., in reply , thanked the brethren for the way they had received the toast , and promised to do all he could for the Lodge , The Provincial Grand Chaplain gave the Masonio Charities , whioh toast was suitably responded to by Bro . 8 . G . Kirchoffer . The W . M .

proposed the Visitors , and in the absence of Bro . Hermon-Hodge , who had just left to catch his train , Bro . A . Welch responded . The Tyler ' s toast closed the proceedings . The musical arrangements wore under the direction of Bro . W . Hickie , and some delightful songs and glees were well rendered by Bros . E . Dalzell , F . H . Horsoroft , H . Taylor , and G . May .

NEW FOREST LODGE , No . 319 .

AT the monthly meeting of this Lodge , held at the Bugle Hotel , Lymington , on Tuesday afternoon , the 13 th nit ., there was a numerous attendance to witness the ceremony of the installation of Bro . Jaokman as Worshipful Master of the Lodge for the ensuing year . Bro . Past Master Doman P . P . G . S . D . was the Installing Master , and he carried out the ceremony with impressive effect . The W . M .

appointed his Officers , as follow : —Bros . Bist I . P . M ., Hayball S . W ., Jolliffe J . W ., Doman Treasnrer , Le Roy Secretary , Hambridge S . D ., Masters J . D ., Catt I . G ., Young Dir . of Cers ., Carnon Assist . Dir . of Cers ., Soywell Organist and Standard Bearer , J . S . Doman and Savidge Stewards , Bailey Tyler . A Past Master ' s jewel was

subsequently presented to Bro . Bist , in recognition of his valued services in the ohair during the past year . Hearty thanks were voted to the Secretary and Treasnrer , who have ably filled these offices for several years past . A banquet was held in the evening , when a very pleasant hour waa spent together .

SCIENTIFIC LODGE , No . 439

THE usual monthly meeting of this Lodge waa held in the Masonic Rooms , Bingley , on Wedneaday night . The Lodge was opened in the firat degree by Bro . Wilkinson Greenwood W . M ., who was supported by the following brethren : —Bros . Dr . McGregor P . M . I . P . M ., Charles Haak S . W ., Chas . Sugden J . W ., J . A . Kershaw S . D ., A . Platts J . D ., J . 0 . Willis I . G ., W . Shier Tyler , Ramsden P . M .

Secretary , Wood P . M . Treasnrer , S . Johnson A . P . S . Chaplain , Hollas P . M ., Tillotson P . M ., Ambler , Sheard , Wood , and Tillotson , Visiting brethren—Bro . W . Watson Past Master Provincial Grand Librarian West Yorks ., and Bro . Chas . F . Forshaw , LL . D ., 2417

The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved , and the bye-laws were read in open Lodge by Bros . P . M . Secretary and Chaplain . The Lodge closed in the first degree , and the brethren adjourned for supper . The rest of the evening was spent in the nsual Masonio manner . Bro . Platts was toasted with musical

honours , and a hearty vote of thanks accorded him for his liberality in presenting each member of the Lodge with a photo of the portrait of the members . Bros . Watson and Forshaw were similarly honoured when the visitors was proposed . Bro . Dr . Forshaw gave