Consecration.

Grand Master , who was accompanied by his Deputy Bro . F . A . Philbrick , Q . C ., Grand Registrar of England , and by Viscount Dungarvan Provincial Grand Master of Somerset . The other Grand Officers present were Bros . T . J . Ealling Provincial Grand

Secretary , A . Lucking P . G . D . C ., R . Clowes and C . J . R . Tijou . A large proportion of the fifty-two Brethren in Lodge were Provincial Grand Officers . The musical arrangements were in the hands of Bro . J . G . Wingrove P . G . Organist .

Lodge being opened and the earlier formalities accomplished , the Provincial Grand Master called upon the P . G . Chaplain of the year , Bro . the Eev . F . Haslock , chaplain of the training ship " Exraouth , " to deliver an oration on the nature and principles of Freemasonry . The conception of Freemasonry , he said ,

implied , like the Christian Church , universal Brotherhood . It had emphasised , as no other system in the world had ever done , the great Christian virtue of Brotherly love and kindness , uniting men of different ranks and opposite views in mutual love , esteem , and respect , and none who joined its ranks could fail to be impressed for good .

Proceeding with the ceremonial Earl Warwick dedicated and constituted the Lodge , the P . G . Chaplain closing this part of the ceremony with the patriarchial benediction . The new Lodge being thus constituted , the Provincial Grand Master relegated the chair to his Deputy , who proceeded to

instal Brother the Eev . T . Lloyd as the first Worshipful Master , performing the ceremony with , if possible , even more than his usual fluency and ease . The W . M . afterwards appointed and invested the following Brethren as his Officers : —W . E . Dring acting I . P . M ., Col . Lockwood , M . P ., S . W ., E . Woodhouse J . W ., S . Chisenhale Marsh Treas ., Ed . A . Ball Sec , Egerton I . Glyn

S . D ., Howell J . J . Price J . D ., H . H . Francis I . G ., Philip S . Lee

D . C , J . Ives Tyler . Lodge being closed , between forty and fifty Brethren sat down to banquet , which was served in excellent style . The tables had been prettily decorated by Mrs . and Miss Dring , the epergne which faced' the Chairman being a delicate harmony in

bunches of light pink prairie roses . The menu card was an appropriate design to a hunt Lodge , including hounds , fox , horn , whip and cap . The W . M . presided , supported right and left by

the Earl of Warwick and Lord Dungarvan , and a pleasant evening was spent while honouring the usual Masonic toasts . Bro . G . Robins afforded a good deal of amusement by his musical sketches .

The founders jewel , which was designed by Brother E . Woodhouse , is a work of art . It consists of a silver star of India with band of dark blue enamel , carrying the name of the Lodge in gold letters . The centre , in enamel , is a well-known

oak in Hainault Forest , with two fox-hounds in full cry . Pendent , in miniature , in gold , is the jewel of the office held by the wearer on the foundation of the Lodge . — " Essex County Chronicle . "

Suffolk.

SUFFOLK .

THE Annual Provincial Grand Lodge was held at the Jubilee Hall , Aldeburgh , on Monday , under the banner of the Adair Lodge , No . 936 . The Lodge was opened at 12-30 by the Provincial Grand Master Lord Henniker , who was supported by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master Eev . C . J . Martyn , and a number of other Brethren , the total present being about 115 .

The roll of Provincial Grand Officers , and the Lodges in the Province having been called over , and the reports presented , Bro . Geo . S . Elliston P . M . 114 , was elected Prov . Grand Treasurer . The Provincial Grand Master next appointed . and invested his Officers as follow : Bro . Pryce Morris 388 - Senior Warden

H . C . Monteith 376 ... Junior Warden Rev . H . S . Hume 1452 - - - ) r , . . J . Manners Smith 1823 - - - J P " W . Brooke 81 Registrar N . Tracy ..... Secretary J . Taylor 936 - - - - Senior Deacon 0 . C . Tuck 516 .... Junior Deacon uocxreii

a ., zzo .... superintendent ot Works J . Franks 376 Director of Ceremonies F . C . Kersey 71 - - - - Assistant Director of Cers . P . H . Wright 1631 ... - Sword Bearer J . Nobbs 305 - - - - ) Q , , . „ C . H . White 1893 - - - - f Standai ' d Bearers

C . H . Yonngman 305 - - - Organist A . Spalding .... Assistant Secretary M . Reid 1224 .... Pursuivant W . Balls 555 .... Assistant Pursuivant R . C . Mayhew 936 - - - - ¦) J . 0 . Green 388 - - - - £ ¦ Stewards H . Calver 936 - - - - j B . W . Syer 376 - - - - Tyler .

The report of the Board of General Purposes stated there had been a marked improvement in the numerical strength of the Order , there having been an increase of fifty-nine initiations and nineteen joinings , as against fifty-five initiations and twenty

Suffolk.

joinings last year , whilst the losses had been thirty-four by resignation , nineteen by death , and nine by exclusion , a » ainst resignations thirty-six , deaths twenty-two , and exclusions twentytwo last year , resulting in a gain of sixteen members , brin » in » the numbers in the Province Co 1 , 001 , as against 985 in the last report .

The financial state was apparently not so favourable , as after providing for the liabilities , which were rather heavier this year , there remained a balance of £ 83 , as against £ 87 . But as the fees of honour of this year had not been taken into account and as they amounted to about £ 21 , the result was reall y more favourable . The report was adopted .

The Suffolk Masonic Charity Association ' s report stated that for the Eoyal Masonic Benevolent Institution , held in February there were nine Stewards , whose lists amounted to £ 65517 s ; for the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Girls , held in May , the lists of

three Stewards amounted to £ 125 9 s 6 d ; and for the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , held in June , the lists of two Stewards amounted to £ 59 17 s , making a total to the three Institutions during the year of £ 841 3 s 6 d . The report was adopted .

The Brethren afterwards marched in procession to the church of S . S . Peter and Paul , where Divine service was conducted , the Eev . H . S . Hume preaching a brief but eloquent sermon , based upon Charity , the Rev . J . Manners Smith reading the lessons . Brother T . Palmer , Mus . Bac , P . Prov . G . O . presided at the

organ . Upon the resumption of the Lord , the Provincial Grand Master briefly addressed the Brethren , congratulating the Province upon its strength . Subsequently the ususl banquet was held at the Brudenell

Hotel , which was excellently served . The Deputy Provincial Grand Master Eev . C . J . Martyn presided , and gave the usual loyal toasts , that of the Pro G . M ., the Deputy G . M ., and the rest of the Grand Officers present and past being responded to by Bro . Thos . T . Ealling Prov . Grand Secretary of Essex .

The Chairman , in proposing the health of the Prov . G . M . the Eight Hon . Lord Henniker , said it was now some years since his lordship had presided over them , and the grace and dignity with ' which he had presided over them that day he felt sure would

commend itself to all Masons . But it was not only in Masonry that Lord Henniker took a personal interest , for it was well know that he also took a leading part in all county matters , and it was with the greatest pleasure that he gave the toast of his health .

The toast of the D . P . G . M . was also warmly received , and Bro . Eev . C . J . Martyn , in responding , said it was an immense pleasure to be with them all that day , and although he was now parted from them by some 200 miles , he could assure them that Suffolk would always command his services , and whenever he

could come amongst them he would . In concluding an eloquent speech , Bro . Martyn said they could congratulate themselves on the progress that Masonry had made in the Province during the

past year , and he hoped that the 1 , 001 Brethren now comprising the Province would strive to their utmost to maintain the great principles of the Craft ; he had no fear but that the Province of Suffolk would continue to prosper .

The Masonic Charities was given , and replied to by Bro . J . M . McLeod Secretary of the Eoyal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Boys , and was followed by other toasts .

It is worthy of note that the only two Brethren present at the Provincial Grand Lodge at Aldeburgh in 1870 who were also present in 1895 , were Bros . J . Taylor and J . L . Woodard . — " East Anglian Daily Times . "

West Lancashire.

WEST LANCASHIRE .

AS announced in our issue of 11 th May would be the case , the ceremony of laying the corner stone of the . new south transept to the church of St . Clement , Chorlton-cum-Hardy , took place on Saturday , the 20 th ult ., under the auspices of the Chorlton Lodge , No . 1387 , and the Architect Lodge , No . 1375 .

By way of adding to the dignity and importance of the proceedings , an especial Provincial Grand Lodge was held at the Masonic Hall , and this was well attended , not only by

Provincial Grand Officers and Brethren of the Western Division , but also by numerous Visitors from neighbouring Provinces . By a very ingenious arrangement the Lodge room and dining room had been converted into one , while every other available room in the building was kindly thrown open for

Masonic purposes . The business of Provincial Grand Lodge was followed by a procession of the Brethren who , headed by a brass band , marched in Masonic order to the church , where they were met by the

following , among other Officers , viz ., the Very Eev . the Dean ot Manchester ( Dr . Maclure ) , Canon Birley , the Eev . R . S . Stoney , Wren Green , Prov . Grand Chaplain , the Rev . F . E . Thomas ,