New Hall At Newbury.

Rolfe , of the Laurels , Newbury , as Worshipful Master for the ensuing year . The first duty which devolved upon the newly-installed Master was the appointment and investiture of the Officers . The installation was impressively performed by Bro .

Stephen Knight jun ., assisted by Bros . C . E . Keyser and J . N . Day . A pleasing incident in the proceedings was the presentation of a jewel to Bro . S . Knight jun ., in recognition of the able and devoted manner in which he had carried out the duties of Acting Worshipful Master during the past year , in the enforced absence of Bro . Colonel Ricardo .

At the close of the business at the Masonic Hall , which had occupied several hours , the Brethren adjourned to the Council Chamber , and partooK of an excellent banquet , well served by Mrs . Stilwell , of the Dolphin Hotel . The newlyinstalled Worshipful Master presided , and a very enjoyable evening was spent .

The speeches were interspersed by some capital songs , rendered by Bros . Camp , Lanpley , W . Wallis , Saltmarsh , Dale , C . Stradling , Pitman , Bailey , and others . — " Reading Mercury . "

NEW HALL AT TAVISTOCK . THE Brethren of the Bedford Lodge , No . 282 , Tavistock , held their annual installation on the 2 nd inst ., and earlier in the afternoon witnessed the laying of the foundation stone of the Freemasons' Hall , in course of erection in Barley Market Street .

A central position , the site has been taken on a lease of ninety years from the Duke of Bedford , at a yearly rental of £ 3 . On it is being raised a substantial stone building , which is to be cemented on the outside , and relieved with suitable mouldings , coping , & c . Over the entrance door

will be a stone , on which will be carved a facsimile of the seal of the Lodge , and at the north-east corner a moulded granite foundation-stone , which was placed in position on the 2 nd . The entrance will have a spacious tiled floor , and on the ground floor there will be a committee-room ,

measuring 24 ft by 17 ft , two smaller rooms , a chamber for the heating apparatus , and the usual offices . A handsome staircase will lead to the landing , at the end of which is the ante-room leading to , the Lodge Room . This Hall will be about 35 ft long by 24 ft in width . The ceiling will be half

open , timbered , and will be 17 ft high in the centre and 14 ft high to the moulding , at which the sloping part commences . The internal wood-work will be of varnished pitch-pine , and suitable provision has been made for ventilation in the most approved manner . Every effort has been made in preparing

the plans and specifications to have a durable and comfortable building , with sufficient ornamentation to make it distinctive . The contract has been entrusted to Bro . T . Kerslake , for the sum of £ 944 , and he has engaged to complete the building

by the 1 st of August next . All the preliminary arrangements were carried out by the Building Committee , of which Bro . Dennis is the Secretary , whilst Bro . Harry Skinner is the Treasurer of the Building Fund .

Considerable interest was manifested in the ceremony in local as well as Masonic circles , especially as the Brethren marched in procession from the Town Hall to the Parish Church , and thence to the site of the new Hall . At halfpast one the Lodgfe , by special dispensation , was opened in the Town Hall , Bro . T . H . Cranch being in the chair .

A procession was subsequently formed , the Brethren wearing Craft clothing , by special permission of the Acting Prov . Grand Master Bro . Major Davie . Headed by the Tyler with drawn sword , the procession , in which were carried the Bible , the square , the level , and the plumb rule ,

besides other Masonic emblems , marched to the Parish Church , where Bro . R . T . Tyacke P . P . G . Chaplain preached , the other portions of the service beine taken by the Revs . H . G . Le Neveu ( vicar of Tavistock ) , T . O . Wonnacott , and W . G . Leigh-Phillips . The church organ was presided at by Bro . F . R . PI . Ivey , of Canynges Lodge , No . 1388 , Bristol .

The preacher took as his text , " Honour all men . Love the brotherhood . Fear God . Honour the king" ( 1 st Peter ii , 17 ) . Proceeding , the Rev . Brother said that if Peter had been a Freemason he could not have given better expression

to fundamental principles ol i reemasonry than was contained in the words of the text . As Freemasons they were taught to look up to the Great Architect of the Universe for guidance and help , and t < . invoke His blessing on all tneir undertakings . Freemasonry acknowledged the gifts of God ,

New Hall At Newbury.

and never failed to return thanks for the blessings received from Him . Then , again , Freemasons were required to pay homage to the Sovereign , and to obey the laws of the realm . The teaching of the Order was quite in keeping with the commandment of Peter . A society based upon principles

such as had been described could not but be a great power for good , and although it was not intended for it to take the place of a man ' s religious faith , he thought that if the principles were only acted up to in the spirit and the letter the effect would be admirable and far-reaching . The charity

of Freemasonry was universal , and wherever there was any distress there a helping hand was extended . After referring to the new building the Rev . Bro . Tyacke expressed the hope that a superstructure would be raised worthy of the Fraternity of which they were members , and the three great pillars of the Order , wisdom , strength and beauty .

A collection was taken on behalf of the Tavistock Cottage Hospital . The procession was afterwards re-formed , and proceeded to the site of the new Hall , where , after prayer had been offered , the records , including a copy of the " Western Daily

Mercury , ' were deposited in the cavity beneath the memorial stone by the Treasurer of the Lodge Bro . G . Merrifield P . P . G . Supt . of Works . A silver trowel , which was suitably inscribed , was then presented to Bro . Major Jos . Mathews P . P . G . S . of Works , who proceeded to lay and prove the stone , which he

declared well and truly laid . According to ancient custom , he sprinkled on the stone corn , wine , and oil , symbolical of plenty , joy , and unanimity . The plans , having been approved , were handed , with the working .. tools , to the builder , Brother T . Kerslake P . P . G . Std . B . Ihe stone bore the following inscription : —

This foundation-stone was laid by W . BRO . J . MATHEWS P . P . G . S . of Wks . ( Devon ) P . M . 282 . January 2 nd , IQOI . "

Bro . F . B . Westlake P . G . D . D . C . England delivered a brief oration , and after expressing his pleasure at being there , congratulated the Lodge on having had such a worthy P . M . as Major Mathews to perform the ceremony is so able a mannen

Prayer having been again offered , the procession reformed , and marched back to the Lodge Room , at the entrance to which the four Lewises who had carried the Holy Writ were presented with Bibles in commemoration of the event .

Afterwards Bro . George William was installed as the W . M . for the ensuing year , the ceremony being conducted by Bros . Bowhay I . P . M . 2166 and Thomas Kerslake P . M .

282 . The newly-installed W . M . invested his Officers . The usual banquet was subsequently held at the Bedford Hotel , a very pleasant evening being enjoyed by a large company . — " Western Mercury . "

Another link was forged this evening between English Freemasonry and the true Masonry of the Continent , while a special honour was paid to all the Brethren in the former branch of the universal Craft , b y the election here , by acclamation , of Prince Frederick Leopold of PrussiaGr'and

, Protector of Prussian Masons , as an honorary member of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge . His Royal Highness , who is a cousin of the Kaiser and is Master of one of the greatest German Lodges , is among the only four distinguished Masons who hold the honorary position of Past Grand Master in the

Grand Lodge of England , he having been called to this by the Prince of Wales , as Grand Master , in 1894 , and the other three being the King of Sweden and Norway , the Duke of Connaught , and the Crown Prince of Denmark . He had graciously consented to become one of the Correspondence

Circle of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge , which consists of nearly three thousand members , but , in view of the special position he holds in the Craft , he was this evening elected to the Lodge itself , which is practically limited to thirty-two , though both Lodge and Correspondence Circle alike devote

themselves to the study of the historic side , not merely of British , but universal Freemasonry . It may be remembered that in November , at the invitation of Prince Frederick

Leopold , a deputation of English Freemasons visited Berlin for the purpose of assisting at an important Masonic function in connection with " The Grand Countries Lodge " of Berlin . The deputation consisted of the Earl of Warwick ( Deputy