Prov. G. Lodge Of Monmouthshire.

Craft . No onr > can attend any of our Lodges without finding himself dravn by deep aud genuine kindness towards bis fellow Masons . Tho love thus cultivated remains a power that time cannot weaken , and c instantly manifests itself in active charity , which is the glory of Freemasonry . A Mason iu distress appeals to his fellow Mason

for help with confidence , knowing that hia appeal will be caretnlly and kindly considered , aud be met by a roady and ample aid , for he is nppealing to men who are swift on foot to help , aid , and execute

benevolence to a brother MaBon , and who have learnt to exercise that charity which has tho approbation of heaven and earth , and which , like its sister mercy , is twice blessed ; for it blesses him who gives as well aa him who receives .

The collection after the sermon was in aid of some of the local charities . It realized the sum of £ 8 18 s 6 d . During the service in the church a heavy storm arose , and as it was still raining at the time when the procession should have made the return journey to the Masonic Hall it was

wisely decided the brethren should abandon the idea of marching back together , consequently cabs and tram cars were requisitioned , much to the satisfaction of those who dreaded the evil effects resulting from wefc clothing . Ou re-assembling , the further business of Prov . Grand Lodge

was transacted , and Lodgo formally closed , "he banquet was supplied by Bro . Dean , at the Westgate Hotel ; the menu was well carried out , and the entire service gave

immense gratification . Col . Lyne makes an excellent President on all occasions , but at this meeting he was at his very best , and the hours passed away most agreeably . The toasts were interspersed with songs and recitations .

Consecration Of Rogerstone Church.

CONSECRATION OF ROGERSTONE CHURCH .

11 HIS interesting event , occurring as it did the day following the . meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Monmouthshire , was made the occasion of a very pleasant day ' s outing for a great many of those who attended the meeting at Newport , on Thursday , the 28 th nit . It appears that Lord Tredegar , who is never backward in rendering assistance where the comfort and convenience of his tenants

and neighbours is concerned , had not only presented an admirable site for the erection of the building , but had presented the hand-Bome sum of £ 500 . A liberal response was made by those interested in the matter and accordingly tbe foundation stone was laid by his Lordship the Bishop of Llandaff , on the 18 th August last . The

chnrch , which is dedicated to St . John , is designed in the deoorated or 14 th century Gothic style of architecture , and provides accommodation for about 300 persons . The outer walls up to the plinth level are faced with local red sandstone , with Cross Keys stone quoins . Above this level the walls are faced with Cross Key stone , havin "

box ground , Bath stone dressings and tracery . A centre ailse runs through tbe church , the pavement being of tesselated tiles , and on either side there are open seats in polished pitch pine . The roof is also of pitch pine , open framed to the ridge , with richly moulded and wrought iron trusses in each bay . One of the features of the

building is the immersion font for baptism ? , arranged with framed coverings for seats over the same duriug ordinary service . The church is cruciform to the extent that on one side of the chancel is the organ chamber , and on the other vestry and porcb . The main entrance to the building is in the south-west corner , while

there is a second entrance in the porchway on the northern angle . The choir stalls are eitnate in the chancel . The architect was Bro . F . A . Johnson , of Newport and Abergavenny . The builder was Mr . Charles Miles , of Newport , while the total cost of the church has exceeded £ 2 , 000 . The 11-15 a . m . train from Newport

conveyed a large number of passengers to Tydee , close to the station of which pretty little hamlet the chnrch has been erected . Through an oversight , a slight delay arose before the formal commencement of the proceedings , but as the day was a fine one , the time passed pleasantly enough , in agreeable conversation on

the several features of interest in the immediate neighbourhood . Shortly after half-past twelve a procession of snrpliced clergy , about 15 in number , with the Lord Bishop at their head , entered by the main doorway . The ri ght rev . prelate , who was preceeded by the Registrar of the Diocese in wig and gown , was met at the

doors by the Kev . J . Jones , Eight Hon . Lord Tredegar , Messrs . E . Steer , E . Davies , E . Stratton , C . R . Soys , and other gentlemen , who bad appended their signature to a legal document setting forth the circumstances under which Lord Tredegar had presented without consideration a site for the building of the Chnrchan

, act on his part approved by Charles Ootavius Swinnerton Morgan and Sir Geo . Walker , two of his trustees . The petitioners humbly prayed the Bishop to consecrate the new Chnrch . Tbe right rev . prelate having repeated the words "The prayer of the petitioners is granted , " led tbe procession up the aisle . Arrived at the chancel

the Registrar read the terms of a document consecrating the church , which was then handed over to the Bishop for signature . A special form of service was then proceeded with , the clergy and choir doing all in their power to add to the solemnity of the

proceedings . The Bishop of Llandaff preached , and took for his text a portion of John xxi , 18 , "Simon , son of Jonas , loveth thoa me . " In the course of an eloqnent address he traced the leading incidents in the life , of the Apostle Peter from the time when he witnessed

the mi acle of the Saviour in the large draught of fishes . Yet this miracle as witnessed by Peter , was only one of the numerous ones performed by Christ . His congregation were aware of the zeal and devotion with which Peter after his conversion preached the doctrines of Christ , aud also how ho fell by denying his Saviour as

Consecration Of Rogerstone Church.

predicted by Him thrice before the cock had crowed twice . The denial by Peter of his Master was the hour of Satan's triumph , but the triumph after all was brief . After the lapse of time and Peter had again worked with zeal , what must have been his feelings when the Master addressed him in the words of his text , " Simon , son of Jonas .

loveth thou me . " His congregation would notice that the title of Peter the apostle had been dropped , and that the Savioar addressed him as Simon . Yet the reply of Simon proved that he had passed through a fiery furnace , and came forth purified— " Yea , Lord , thou kuowest that I love thee . " The Saviour did know it , for he at once

replied " Feed my sheep . " After explaining the life of the Apoatle , tho right rev . prelate remarked that that was a noteworthy day to churchmen throughout the entire kingdom , and particularly noteworthy to those residing in the immediate locality , in oonsequenoeof the consecration of the beautiful church in which they were then assembled . He thanked God that whatever the state of the Church

had been in the past , it could not now be said that its members were not feeding Christ ' s lambs . Let them look at the work of the Church . During , comparatively speaking , a few years , a sum of £ 30 , 000 , 000 had been spent in the ereotion of schools where religious teaching was inculcated . This had entailed heavy sacrifices , for ihe

work had been rendered harder than ic would otherwise have been by certain laws passed by the Legislature . Yet he thanked God that Churchmen iu their love for Christ had williugly made those sacrifices . Let them look again to the mission work of the Church of Eugland . Among the heathen the work of rescue was proceeding

at a rapid rate , and Colonial Bishops were being created wherever their services were most required . With the Home Bishops no less than 150 of these would assemble at Canterbury on the day following . That day's ceremony , too , supplied further proof that the diocese of Llandaff was by no mean 3 lagging in proving the vitality and

earnestness of the Church . A love of Christ had kindled a love for human souls , and the wealthy by giving freely to the erection of charohes such as that opened that day showed that they were by no means indifferent to the spiritual wants of their poorer neighbours . He prayed God the building would be appreciated , for worshippers therein

would find when they sought favours at the Throne of Grace that they would not be sent away empty . In conclusion the Bishop appealed to the residents in the neighbourhood to attend with regularity , thereby showing their appreciation of the generosity of those who had been the means of securing the erection of the chnrch .

At the conclusion of the first service luncheon was partaken of in a large marquee erected close to the church , where about 150 ladies and gentlemen sat down . The toasts submitted were " The Queen , " "The Bishop and Clergy , " "The Donors of the Building Fund , " and " The Architect and Builder . " At the afternoon servioe the Ven .

Archdeacon Bruce preached , while at the evening ' s service the Rev . J . C . Llewelin , vicar of Trevethin , was the officiating clergyman . In the course of the day's proceedings many complimentary remarks

were made as to the way in which Bro . Johnson had performed his work as Architect ; and Mr . Richard Stratton , an influenoial member of the Building Committee , on behalf of bis coufreres , spoke in the highest terms of his assiduity , ability and care .

Saturday last , the 30 th ult ., was gala day at the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , it being what is popularly known as " Old Pupils' Day , " and advantage was taken to open the place generally to visitors . About sixty old

pupils attended during the day , and they were received about three o ' clock by Bro . Frank Richardson , Chairman of the month , with Bros . Sir John Monckton , Thomas Penn , Peter de Lande Long , Charles Hammerton , J . H .

Matthews , Edward Letchworth , of the House Committee . The whole of the Albert Hall programme was gone through , the exercises and marching being performed on one of the lawns , which had the most pleasing effect . Amongst the

guests were Sir Edmund and Lady Lech mere Prov . Grand Master for Worcestershire , the Rev . Prebendary Whittington , Bro . Berridge , the Rev . Hayman Cummiugs , Dr . Purchase , Bros . Charles Cheston , Herbert Jackson , George

W . Rush , Charles W . Stephens , & c . At the end of the proceedings Sir Edmund Lechmere and Prebendary Whittington ( the latter not a Mason ) addressed the

children and expressed the great gratification they had experienced in seeing them so proficient in all thoir work , the Prehendary particularly remarking upon the excellence of the music and recitations .

The annual festival of the St . John ' s Lodge recently took place in the Victoria Hall , Dursley , when Bro . Major-General Vizard was installed Worshipful Master for the

second year in succession . The ceremony was performed by Bro . R . V . Vassar-Smitb , the Deputy Prov . Grand Master . Visitors from most of the neighbouring Lodges were present . After the ceremony the banquet took place at the Old Bell Hotel .

Freemasons of the district of Bexhill will be interested in learning that application has recently been made for a warrant for a Lodge at Bexhill , the necessary preliminaries having heen attended to .