Consecrations.

CONSECRATIONS .

ALLEYN LODGE .

THE consecration of this addition to the English register , numbered 2647 , and named after the founder of Dulwich College , " took place on Saturday , at the Half Moon Hotel , Dulwich , the Consecrating Officer being Bro . E . Letchworth Grand Secretary . Bro . C . J . Axford P . P . G . D . Middlesex was installed as the first Master , while Bros . G . W . Capel and J . Joel received the collar of Senior and Junior Warden respectively .

Chaloner Lodge.

CHALONER LODGE .

ONE of the most imposing Masonic ceremonies which have lately been held in Wiltshire took place on Saturday , at Melksham , when the consecration of the Chaloner Lodge , No . 2644 , took place . There was a very large assembly of members of the Craft , and the ceremony was undertaken by the Provincial Grand Master the Earl of Radnor .

The Brethren assembled in the Free Hall , at two o ' clock , and the impressive service was then commenced . The oration on the nature and principles of the Institution was given with due solemnity by the Rev . S . T . Wood ( rector of Hilperton and Grand Chaplain of Wilts ) .

After the consecration , a procession was formed , and marched from the Lodge to the church . By a special dispensation the Brethren were allowed to wear their regalia in the street , and , as may be easily imagined , the sight was a most imposing one , says the " Bristol Times . "

The sermon was preached by the Rev . F . W . Macdonald P . G . Chap . England P . P . G . Chap . Wilts , rector of Wishford . After the service the installation of the W . M . Designate Captain Chaloner took place , and he duly invested his Officers . A banquet followed at the Town Hall , and about 120 sat down .

The founders of the new Lodge are Brothers Captain Richard Godolphin Walmesley Chaloner , M . P ., Charles Saxty , Edward Lowther , Henry Sawtell , John Parker , Robert John Parker , Joseph Collett , George Childe , Charles Sawtell , and Frederick William Bascomb .

Sir Francis Drake Lodge.

SIR FRANCIS DRAKE LODGE .

A SPECIAL meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Devonshire was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Plymouth ,

on the 24 th ult ., for the purpose of consecrating this new Lodge , No . 2649 on the English register . In the unavoidable absence of the Provincial Grand Master the Hon . Sir Stafford Northcote , Bart ., C . B ., M . P ., Bro . G . C . Davie Deputy Prov . Grand Master presided over a very large and influential gathering .

The Provincial Grand Secretary Bro . John Stocker P . M . 39 read the petition , which had been acceded to by H . R . H . the Grand Master of England , and which bore the signatures of Bro . Hugh David Sandeman ( Indian Civil Service ) , Colonel Hy . M . Burlton 651 , George A . Collum 1704 , Major G . B . G . Dick 2258 , Edgar Dudley 112 , Captain J . Lindsay Lloyd , R . E ., 2258 , Commander J . R . W . Quinn , R . N ., 954 , F . E . Remfrey 1529 , and the Rev . Eugene Sullivan 1099 .

The consecration over , Bro . H . D . Sandeman was installed as Worshipful Master of the new Lodge by the Provincial Grand Secretary , who conducted the ceremony in a manner that elicited the warmest admiration . The proceedings throughout were highly impressive , and the way in which the work was carried out reflects credit on all concerned .

The Worshipful Master appointed the following as his Officers : —Bros . F . E . Remfrey S . W ., Colonel Burlton J . W ., Rev . E . Sullivan Chap ., Major Dick Treasurer , Captain Lloyd Secretary , Commander Quinn S . D ., George Collum J . D ., E . Dudley I . G ., and W . H . Phillips Tyler . — " Western Mercury . "

Amity Mark Lodge.

AMITY MARK LODGE .

ON 19 th January last , a committee , consisting of Bros . Alexander Clarke Chapin J . W . of the St . Cutherga Mark Lodge , No . 99 ; John Henry Whatcoat of Fearnley , No . 58 ; and Frederick Philps Oakley S . D . of the St . Cuthberga , No . 99 and P . P . G . M . St . B . Dorset , called a meeting of the Mark Masons of the district , when it was decided to resuscitate the Mark Lodge in Poole .

Bro . Chapin informed the Brethren that he had heard from the Grand Mark Secretary that it was necessary for three members of the present Lodge to pay Grand Mark Lodge dues

Amity Mark Lodge.

ten years from 1886 to 1896 inclusive . Bros . Dugdale , Sydenham , and Furnell ' s names were returned , and Grand Mark Lodge gave Bro . W . D . Dugdale permission to hold two Lodges of Emergency to rank as Regular Lodges . The first Lodge was held on 4 th February , for the election of Worshipful Master and Treasurer , when Bros . Alexander Clarke Chapin and W . D .

Dugdale P . M . 132 and P . P . G . M . S . W . Dorset were chosen . The second Lodge was held on Thursday , 18 th ult ., when Bro . Alexander Clarke Chapin was duly installed Worshipful Master by Bro . H . J . Sydenham P . M . 182 and P . P . G . M . O . of Dorset . The addresses were given by Bro . Edward Worth P . M . 125 P . P . G . M . O . of Hants .

The Worshipful Master appointed and invested his Officers as follow : —Bro . John Henry Whadcoat S . W ., F . P . Oakley J . W ., George Hobbs M . O ., W . D . Dugdale Treasurer , T . S . Furnell R . of M ., J . A . Cocker Chaplain , Edward Howell S . D ., Thomas Griffiths J . D ., Stephen Short P . M ., & c . D . C , and George Squibb Tyler .

The Brethren were then called from labour to refreshment , and having partaken of refreshment , were called to labour again , and Bros . J . J . Lawrence , W . J , Bacon , W . J . White , George Hodges , G . A . Mate , and George Wood were regularly advanced to the Mark degree by the Worshipful Master , assisted by Bro . William Humphrey P . M . 125 P . P . G . M . O . of Hants .

The Worshipful Master then appointed and invested Bro . G . A . Mate Secretary , W . J . White Organist , George Wood I . G ., and George Hodges Steward . The Secretary read letters regretting inability to be present , from several Brethren .

General Laurie , M . P ., has been appointed by the Prince of Wales Provincial Grand Master of the Western Division of South Wales , in succession to the late Lord Kensington . The general is a distinguished Mason , and has held the position of Grand Master of Nova Scotia . His appointment will be hailed with the utmost satisfaction by every Lodge in his Province .

We do not know how the English Chapters would show in comparison with the details given below , and it would be very difficult to collect statistics to guide us to an opinion , but it will doubtless be of interest to those associated with the Royal Arch Degree to know that in some parts it is apparently more

popular than is the case under the Grand Chapter of England . The Provincial Grand Chapter of Glasgow has prepared a careful report of the work of its subordinate Chapters , from which we learn there was an average of eleven meetings per Chapter during tbe year , and an average attendance at the

meetings of twenty-five . It will be seen that the Scotch Chapters meet more frequently than is the custom in this country , and , as has been pointed out in our pages at different times , it may be that an alteration in this particular might add to the prosperity of the Degree in England . The Glasgow

Province shows an addition of 156 new members during the year , which , with one exception ( 1893 ) is a record number . A feature unknown under our Jurisdiction is that of Life Membership , but in the Glasgow Province no less than 469 Companions have availed themselves of the privilege there

accorded in this direction , which shows an increase of 144 as compared with the previous year . The cash standing to the credit of the various Chapters of the Province amounts to £ 684 , which may be taken as further proof of prosperity in the district .

The Rio Janeiro correspondent of the " Osservatore Cattolico , " in telegraphing to it the announcement of the death of the Archbishop of that See , gives circulation to a rumour preferring a serious charge against the Freemasons . This prelate , whose death is no small loss to Brazil and to the Church ,

was a man of most earnest zeal and indefatigable energy . He was rigid in the discharge of his duty , and as he died suddenly , after having refused to bury a member of the Masonic sect with religious rites , the rumour arose that he had been poisoned by the Freemasons . The correspondent states that after having

made special inquiries he finds that the report lacks confirmation . No doubt the suddenness of the Archbishop ' s death can be accounted for by a natural cause , but the fact of its having occurred after he had refused Christian burial to a Freemason suggested the idea that the members of the Craft had resorted

to foul play . It is curious how quickly such rumours take wing in warm latitudes , especially when the people are of an imaginative temperament . But the condemnation of Freemasonry by the Church should make Catholics all the more slow to accept accusations against them , unless they are unmistakably proved . — " Catholic Times . "