Church Services.

CHURCH SERVICES .

SATISFACTORY progress is being made with the arrangements for the Masonic Service to be held at St . Mark ' s , New Barnet , on Sunday , 12 th inst ., in connection with the Consecration Festival of that Church . As already mentioned in our columns the service will commence at 3 . 30

p . m ., and the sermon will be preached by Bro . the Venerable Archdeacon Sinclair P . G . Chaplain , while other clergymen and others associated with the Craft will take leading parts . The Brethren have arranged for a special train to leave King's Cross ( G . N . R . ) at 2 . 35 p . m . ( and connecting with the

2 . 8 from Moorgate Street and the 2 . 12 from Broad Street , at Finsbury Park ) , stopping at all stations to New Barnet inclusive , and arriving there at 3 . 3 p . m . Bro . J . H . Craig

S . W . r 88 ( proprietor of the Hadley Hotel , New Barnet ) has arranged to provide a high tea , after the ceremony , for those who may not be accommodated by friends in the district , at a charge of is 6 d per head .

AS announced in our last issue a Masonic Festival Service was held ( under the auspices of the Clissold Lodge , No . 2551 ) on Sunday , at the Kingsland Congregational Church , High Street , Kingsland , N . E . In spite of the very inclement weather , between 300 and 400 Brethren assembled

in the Lecture Hall about half past six , and , a special dispensation having been granted by the Grand Master the Prince of Wales , marched in procession to the Church , clad with Masonic clothing and wearing their collars and jewels . Among those present were Bros . Alfred H . Cooper W . M .

2551 , J ames Terry P . G . S . B . Secretary to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution ( who acted as Director of the Ceremonies ) , Harry Townend I . P . M . 2265 , A . E . Mitchell W . M . 1714 , Macfarlane W . M . 2601 , Kemmer P . M . 118 4 , Aldis P . M . 1288 , Lamigeon P . M . 2551 , Holding P . M . 1350 ,

Aveling P . P . D . C , Hill P . M . 1305 , Davies P . M . 1288 , Cox P . M . 813 , Bibby P . P . S . W . Herts , Cook P . M . 1580 , George Graveley P . G . P ., Bibby P . M . 1327 , Edwards W . M . 1287 , Gowen P . M . 2472 , Best 183 , Forrest 1364 , Love 2241 , Pratt 861 , Manners 1559 , Johnson 2278 , Page 1828 , Gardner 1793 , Thee 1602 , White 1471 , Brook 2470 , Clementson 2475

Percie Cooper I . G . 2551 , Cornish 1319 , Sims 2202 , Edmonds P . M . 1507 , Sutch 1559 , Scott 1381 , Fitzwilliam 1793 , & c , & c , & c . The Brethren occupied the entire area of the building ,

and all the other parts were crowded . Bro . Arthur Briscoe P . P . G . O . presided at the organ , and played the Alicia March while the Brethren took their places . The usual choir was supplemented by several voices , and an orchestra under the direction of Bro . Warwick Williams .

The Rev . Mr . H . LePla , the Minister of the Church , gave the Brethren a hearty welcome from the pulpit , and thanked them for so kindly lending their support upon the occasion . He had heard of the great Masonic Charities and the large contributions collected on their behalf , and he

trusted their support that evening would enable him to complete the restoration of the Church . He had not been initiated into the mysteries of the Order , but he knew their

desire to promote the brotherhood of mankind , and the relief of their fellow creatures . An exceedingly well arranged special service was given , the Lessons being read by Bro . the Rev . F . W . Aveling P . P . G . Chaplain Somerset .

The sermon was preached by Bro . the Rev . William Whittley ( of Cricklewood ) P . G . D . and P . P . G . C . Devon , from the text I Corinthians iii , 13 , " Every man's work shall be made manifest . " Bro . Whittley drew attention to the sublime principles and teachings of Freemasonry , and laid

special emphasis upon the fact that the Order knew nothing of denominationalism , and though their services were usually held in Churches of the Establishment of England , their presence there that evening testified to the universality of the Craft .

As the ancients looked at the outside of the Temple , he said , no doubt they wondered what the inside must be to justify so great magnificence , as we ourselves were inclined to wonder , when a man had achieved fame , whether he deserved it . When any body of persons , be they members

of a Church or members of an Order , professed to take hold of certain truths , the world expected some assurance of a glorious interior . Freemasonry , he urged , had no need to be ashamed either of its profession or its practice . It

recognises the equality of all men in the sight of God , it seeks to inculcate the mutual dependence of mankind , and it practices the protection of something more valuable even than life—the protection of character , it rushes to the rescue

Church Services.

of those who have fallen by the way , it practices the heromaking qualities of fidelity and fortitude . A collection was made on behalf of the Church Funds , a substantial amount being realised , after which Miss Emily Davis sang the beautiful air " With verdure clad , " and the

choir rendered the festival anthem Awake thou that sleepest , " accompanied by the organ and orchestra . This was followed by the entire congregation singing Sir Michael

Costa's arrangement of the National Anthem , and the benediction having been given the congregation dispersed . Great credit is due to all concerned for the very able manner in which the arrangements were carried out .

Referring to this Service , the Christian World says : The collection amounted to a little over £ 25 . Brotherliness in this instance has thus not remained an abstraction . We

have the greater pleasure in recording this since one understands that the Chairman and members of the Committee of the Clissold Lodge , with but one exception , are members of the Established Church .

AT All Saint's Church , Southport , on the afternoon of the 22 nd ult ., a Masonic Service was held , and an offertory made in aid of the fund which is being raised to endow a Masonic cot at the infirmary . The Brethren assembled at the Rawlinson Road Institute , and walked thence to the church where , having donned their regalia ,

they were accommodated with seats in the nave . About 100 Brethren were present . The officiating clergy were Bros . Rev . C . T . Porter , D . D . ( vicar ) , Rev . J . Williams ,-and the Rev . W . Millington , D . D . The sermon was preached by Bro . the Ven . Archdeacon Sinclair , of London , Past Grand

Chaplain of England . At the close of his sermon he mentioned that the amount required for the endownment of a cot at the infirmary was £ 700 , towards which £ 170 had already been raised .

At the installation meeting of the Abbey Lodge , No . 2120 , held at Chertsey , on the nth ult ., Brother McCormick , the new W . M ., presented to the Lodge a most handsome charity box made of ebony and inlaid with silver , and Bro . Secretary Bidwell produced a letter enclosing three farthings

( for luck ) from the Earl . of Onslow , as a memento of his visit to the Lodge on the 30 th November . The box bore the following inscription : — "This box was presented to the Abbey Lodge , No . 2120 , by Wor . Bro . Alex . McCormick ,

on his installation , Jan . nth , 1899 , and contains three farthings of the reign of George IV ., presented by the Right Hon . the Earl of Onslow R . W . Prov . G . M . Surrey , in remembrance of his first visit to the Abbey Lodge , November 30 th , 18 9 8 . "

Lord Hindhp was initiated a member of the Worcester Lodge , No . 280 , at Worcester , on the 18 th ult ., on the nomination of the Mayor Bro . J . A . Steward . The Provincial Grand Master of Worcestershire Sir A . Frederick Godson was present , and , after refreshment , he proposed

Lord Hindlip ' s health , and wished him bon voyage for Victoria . It is believed that Lord Hindlip is about to join the staff of Lord Brassey , the Governor of the Australian colony , because it has been understood that his lordship was anxious to enter the public service .

We notice with pleasure that the new Provincial Grand Master of Norfolk . continues to take an active interest in the Lodges of his district , indeed it may almost be said that he attends more meetings now than he did when acting as Deputy to Lord Suffield . The example he sets might well

be followed by other rulers of the Craft , the attendance of a real Provincial Grand Master at ordinary meetings—outside of Norfolk—being at present very much of a rarity ; but why it should be so we fail to see . If the title is worth having the meetings should be worth attending . .

The members of the Virtue and Honour Lodge , Axminster , did very well at their recent meeting , when they voted the following sums in the cause of Charity : Two guineas to the Devon Masonic Educational Fund , one guinea

to the Fortescue Annuity Fund , one guinea to the Devon Widows' Fund , half a guinea to "Our Brothers' Bed" in the National Free Home for the Dying , two guineas to the Kitchener Fund to establish a Gordon Memorial College , and one guinea to the Axminster Cottage Hospital .