Freemasonry And The War.

FREEMASONRY AND THE WAR .

AS was to be expected , the Special General Court of ithe Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , which was called

for Thursday , unanimously approved of the suggestion to admit Audrey Rennett , daughter of a Brpther who died while on active service in South Africa , into the Institution without the usual form of election .

A similar proposal in connection with the Boys School , on behalf of two lads , was down for consideration at the Court held yesterday , and no doubt was equally well received , but we were unable to get definite particulars on application to the office last evening .

West London Charity.

WEST LONDON CHARITY .

THE West London Masonic Election Association held its regular monthly meeting on Thursday , 3 rd inst , at the

Town Hall Tavern , High Street , Kensington . The President Bro . W . Hillier occupied the chair , and the Secretaries Bros . A . Williams and J . H . Gumming , and Treasurer Bro . Craggs were in their places .

The President stated they had a candidate for the Benevolent Institution , and one for the Girls School at the coming elections , and impressed on those present . not to

relax their efforts in canvassing and endeavouring to get promises of votes , so that the Association might uphold the high reputation it had attained in securing its candidates ' election during its six years existence .

The proceedings closed with a yote of thanks to Brother Hillier for presiding .

New Hall At Newbury.

NEW HALL AT NEWBURY .

THE opening week of the Twentieth Century has furnished substantial proof of the progress and stability of Freemasonry in Newbury , a Masonic Hall having been dedicated on Friday afternoon , 4 th inst , with all the rites

and ceremonies peculiar to the Order , by the Deputy Prov . Grand Master of Berkshire Bro . John Thornhill Morland ( Mayor of Abingdon ) , assisted by Bro . Charles E . Keyser

of Aldermaston Court Past Grand Deacon of England , Bro . John W . Martin Provincial Grand Secretary , Brother Walford W . Ridley Provincial Grand Warden , and other distinguished Brethren .

This important step has been taken under the aupices of the Loyal Berkshire Lodge of Hope , No . 574 , which was founded in the year 1 S 50 , and therefore attained its jubilee last year , when it was intended that the Masonic Hall should be opened , but the event was deferred in the hope that the

Worshipful Master Bro . Colonel Gerald Ricardo would have returned from the war in time to participate in the Jubilee celebration . Unfortunately the marauding tactics of the Boers have had the effect of detaining the Imperial Yeomanry in South Africa , and there being no immediate

prospect of their home-coming , Colonel Ricardo expressed his wish that the dedication of the Masonic Temple in Newbury should no longer be delayed , although he had taken such an active and liberal part in connection with the proceedings for its acquisition .

The first Master of the Lodge was Bro . John Packer , who in his turn was succeeded by a number of well known townsmen until the year 1866 , when Bro . Bland ( who was a veterinary surgeon at Speenhamland , and father-in-law of

Alderman Ravenor ) , was elected Worshipful Master . At this period Masonry was not in such a flourishing condition as at the present time , and owing to the scarceness of local members , well versed in the ritual , Bro . -Bland continued to preside over the Lodge for four successive years—an

New Hall At Newbury.

unparalleled incident in its history . Following Bro . Bland came Bro . W . H . Cave , the well known solicitor of former days , who filled the chair in 1870 and 1871 ,. but this gentleman had previously been Worshipful Master for two years , in 1859 and i 860 . The late Bro . Barron Fielder , of

Northbrook Street , whose installation was attended by the late Sir Daniel Gooch , M . P . ( then Provincial Grand Master of Berks and Bucks ) held Office during the years 1872 and 1873 . By this time the membership had materially increased , and an era of prosperity for the Lodge had set in .

Subsequently no difficulty was experienced in finding a regular succession of members qualified in every respect to hold the position of Worshipful Master , and the interest aroused in Masonry during later years has been such that at the present time the Lodge has a membership of nearly eighty , including

clerics , professional men , and tradesmen , the senior initiate member beine Bro . G . J . Cosburn , of the Market Place , who was introduced to the mysteries of the Order in 1868 , during the presidency of the late Bro . Bland . The next two Brethren in point of seniority are Alderman Ravenor and Bro . E . Head ( of Thatcham ) .

It may be mentioned that the oldest Lodge , of Mark Master Masons in the Province of Berks and Oxon exists in Newbury , the Porchester Lodge having been founded in 1858 , with the late Bro . H . E . Astley , solicitor , of

Hungerford , as the first Worshipful Master . There is also at Newbury a Royal Arch Chapter , founded in 1896 , which has now a membership of about forty , the first Principal being Comp . C . E . Keyser .

The building which has been converted to Masonic purposes stands in a by-way off Northbrook Street , and was for a lengthened period used by successive firms of legal practitioners . It is a well constructed house , probably built about a century ago . The conversion of the premises was

entrusted to Bro . W . Ravenscroft , F . S . A ., of the Forbury , Reading , and the works have been carried out by the contractors , Messrs . Elms and Son , who are themselves members of the Craft . The chief feature is , of course , the Temple itself , measuring 39 ft in length and \ y ] 4 , ft in width , which

has been formed by removing the ceiling of the first floor storey and taking in a portion of the roof which originally formed the attic storey . The old tie-beams of the roof which supported the attic floor have been retained , being in oak , and thus a well proportioned room has been secured , the

floor extending over the old staircase , which has been taken away and in part used for the new access to the Temple . The ceiling , which is wagon-shaped , is formed with oak ribs , moulded and shaped to form plaster panels , which are left in one tint for'future decoration . Beneath the cornice

the frieze is similarly treated , and from , the under side of this to the floor the whole of the walls are panelled with oak . The treatment thus adopted has been carried into the recesses on the sides and ends of the Temple for the Master ' s and Wardens' chairs and the Secretary ' s desk . The style is that

of the Jacobean period , and at the east and west ends above the roof cornice level , small windows , similarly treated , give as much light and ventilation as is needed . The heating is effected by means of a " Syndicate " stove on the ground floor , and the lighting is by gas brackets executed in wrought

iron and copper . The latter work has been carried out by Bro . Stephen Knight and his son , both of whom are enthusiastic Freemasons , and have for years past devoted much time and energy in promoting the best interests of the Order in this part of the country .

The dedication ceremony was followed by the first regular Lodge held in the new Temple , and by a happy coincidence , the principal business on the somewhat lengthy . agenda was the installation of the Senior Warden Bro , John