Consecrations.

CONSECEATIONS .

— : o : — THOMAS RALLING LODGE , No . 2508 . nnllE consecration of this Lodge , named in compliment j to the esteemed Provincial Grand Secretary of Essex and Past A . G . D . C . of England " The Thomas Balling Lodge , No . 2508 , " took place at the Victoria Hotel , Chingford , on Tuesday afternoon , when there was a large attendance of Brethren from various parts of the

county . The consecration ceremony was to have been performed by the Earl of Warwick Provincial Grand

Master , but his lordship being unable to attend , the function devolved upon Bro . F . A . Philbrick , Q . C , Grand Beg . Deputy Prov . G . M . The S . W . chair was

occupied by Bro . Hoddinott P . G . S . W ., and the J . W . by Bro . J . Salter P . P . J . G . W . Among the Brethren present were , —Bros . Thomas J . Balling P . M . and Sec . 51 P . A . G . D . C . Prov . G . Sec , Charles Lewis 1706 , B . J . H . Jennings 1706 , E .

Parrington Salvage 1706 , Walter J . Tull 1706 , Isaac C . Griffith 1706 , C . H . Kempling 1706 , Frank Griffith 1853 , J . Pinder Prov . Grand Treas . Essex , Bev . Thomas Varney Prov . Grand Chap ., M . T . Tuck 1343 P . P . G .

Stand . B ., H . E . Dehane P . M . 15 * 13 P . P . G . S . D ., F . White 1347 P . P . G . E ., F . H . Meggy 276 P . P . G . A . D . C ., F . Wood P . Prov . G . S . W ., Harold Francis P . M . 51 , E . Haward Ives P . M . 51 , Henry P . Balling 51 , Thomas Eix P . M . and Sec . 697 , E . Booth W . M . 967 , James F .

Balling P . M . 1332 , Claude Egerton Green W . M . 2477 , Bev . T . Lloyd P . P . Grand Chap . Essex and Staffordshire , Sir William Abdy , Bart ., 2342 , S . Sleigh 376 , & c . The Deputy Provincial Grand Master said that in consequence of the unavoidable absence of their beloved

Provincial Grand Master , the Earl of Warwick , the duty of Consecrating the Lodge had devolved upon him . He knew that it was a matter of great regret to his lordship that he was compelled to be absent on that occasion . He had received a letter from his lordship , dated from

Warwick Castle , asking him to inform the Brethren that he had been summoned to America on important business , and obliging him to start on the previous day . Brother Philbrick went on to speak of the peculiar interest the Consecration of a new Lodge had to the Fraternity . It

was giving effect to , and calling into active life the Warrant of the Most Worshipful Grand Master for a new organisation , a new centre of brotherhood , and fraternal union , to be planted where the warrant directed , and which it was to be hoped would tend to the diffusion

of those principles to which they were so much attached . The Lodge bore the name of a well-known and largelyrespected Brother ; and it was a fortunate matter that the Lodge had for its first Master , their Bro . Balling , the Provincial Grand Secretary , and who bad also been

honoured by the Grand Master with an appointment as Officer of Grand Lodge . He was sure that if the work of the Lodge ¦ was carried out with anything of the

assiduity , the courtesy , and the Masonic feeling with which the duties of the Provincial Grand Secretary had been discharged by the new Worshipful Master , the Lodge had a career of success before it .

After the consecration , which the Deputy performed with much impressiveness , Bro . A . Lucking P . G . P . Eng . Prov . G . D . C . Essex installed Bro . Balling Master of the Lodge . The following Officers were subsequently appointed , —Fred Bevan I . P . M ., Charles Lewis S . W ., B .

J . Hennings J . W ., Bichard Clowes Treasurer , W . Clifford Sec , Walter J . Tull S . D ., Charles H . Kempling J . D ., Frank Griffith I . G ., Isaac C . Griffith Organist , George Page and Edward P . Salvage Stewards , Freeman P . M . Tyler .

The Consecration banquet followed in the evening at the Victoria Hall , where the Lodge is held . The W . M . ( Bro . Balling ) presided , supported by Bro . Philbrick and other influential Brethren , including several Grand Officers .

The usual Masonic toasts were given , and in proposing the Provincial Grand Master , the Deputy , and the Officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge , the W . M . spoke with regret at the absence of the Earl of Warwick , whom he was sure all wished a pleasant voyage across the Atlantic , and speedy return to his native country .

Consecrations.

It was very important to them as a young Lodge that they should have a good start , and this they certainly had in the manner in which the Deputy Provincial Grand Master had performed his duties . They would

consider Brother Philbrick , Q . C , for all time as their sponsor , and they wished him the best of health to exercise the great influence he did over the destinies of the Craft .

Bro . Philbrick , in responding , said that he knew from correspondence he had had with the Earl of Warwick , the interest his lordship took in the formation of the Lodge , and he was sure that there would be carried out

in that Lodge that which its Founders meant , and that which its name merited , namely , to become a shining light in Masonry , and an example to the Lodges of the Province .

The Deputy Provincial Grand Master , in submitting the health of the Worshipful Master , observed that they all knew that the Lodge was highly favoured in having Bro . Balling as its first Master . They felt that an honour had been done to the Lodge , and an honour had

been done him in selecting his name as the name which was to be inscribed on the roll of Lodges . To a certain extent their Brother had placed his repvitation in the hands of the Lodge , and he need not say that they would be jealous of that reputation . Bro . Balling's past

career was a guerdon to his future success , and they all , while they felt glad to see him in that position , were proud that he reflected upon the Lodge the credit and

the lustre which during so many years he had so well gained by his unfailiug urbanity , by his great knowledge of Masonry , and above all by the kindness of his heart amongst the Brethren of the Province . The Worshipful Master appropriately acknowledged the toast , which was followed by several others .

De Percy Chapter.

DE PERCY CHAPTER .

ON Tuesday of last week a new Boyal Arch Chapter * called the De Percy Chapter was , says the " Newcastle Daily Journal , " consecrated in connection

with the De Ogle Lodge , in the Masonic Hall , Morpeth . The ceremony was performed with great solemnity and impressiveness by Comp . Lieutenant-Colonel J . H

Bentham P . P . G . H . Prov . G . S . E ., assisted by Comps . Bev . John Walker P . Z ., Thomas Purvis Prov . G . D . S . E ., George Spain P . P . G . H ., and Jacob Barker P . Z . The

Principals of the new Chapter were afterwards installed , viz ., —Comps . W . Davidson Z ., John Watt H ., Thos . Appleby J . The Chapter begins under the most

promising auspices . A large number of the Companions dined together at the Black Bull Inn . The chair was occupied by Comp .

Davidson , and the vice-chair by Comp . Turner . An excellent dinner was served in the well-known style of the hostelry .

The Lodge of Hope , No . 302 , Bradford , will complete the 100 th year of its existence this month , and arrangements have been made to celebrate the Centenary in due Masonic fashion . On Sunday next a special service

will , with the consent of the vicar and churchwardens , be held at the Bradford Parish Church at 10 . 30 a . m . ^ when the sermon will be preached by the Bev . Brother Canon Bullock P . Prov . G . Chaplain , vicar of Holy

Trinity , Leeds . It has been arranged that the Masonic Brethren shall assemble in the Masonic Hall , Bawson Square , at ten o ' clock , and walk in procession to the church , wearing Masonic clothing . On Monday , the

Centenary will be further celebrated at a special Lodge meeting to be held in the large hall of the Church Institute , at 4 . 0 p . m . After the Lodge a banquet will be served at the Great Northern Victoria Hotel , when

the distinguished Masonic guests will include Brother the Bight Hon . W . L . Jackson , M . P ., the Prov . G . M . of West Yorkshire ; the Deputy Prov . G . M . Henry Smith P . G . D ., and the other Provincial Grand Officers of West

Yorkshire . The Centenary celebrations are expected to mark an important epoch in the Masonic history of Bradford , and the gathering will probably be the largest yet held under the banner of any Lodge in the town . " Yorkshire Post . "