Consecration.

They must be to us the symbolic language of Jehovah himself , if we would make the use of them which their original authors intended . We must regard them as the speculum in which the light of Divine Wisdom may be brought within the range of our imperfect vision , and the great truths which they embody find the solution of those social problems which distress and disquiet

us so sorely . Here we have no continuing city . The very word Lodge speaks of terminable dependent tenure , " shadows we are and shadows we pursue . " But there can be no shadow without a substance , and if our glass , though darkly , mirrors the infinite , then our speculations may soar beyond time and doubt , and may enter into the spirit of those noble lines :

" These last day summers we admit with doubt The silver rain of prophecy still drops To lay the blowing dust of human thought , What boot such symbols ? Musio and the palm , Onyx and chrysophrase and amethyst ? Were it not better seek some other love ,

Profounder and more intellectual hope ? Ah , we love green , and Heaven is rich with green ; Music , and Heaven's shore shakes with anthemings , And we love glory , and the saints are crowned : Liberty , and aye open are the gates

Of the great city that lies four square , to give An avenue to every human heart . Variety , and leaves and fruit and gems Blaze there , and bloom twelve mannered ever more . Ah me I we have been too much men on earth , Let us in Heaven be children once again .

At the conclusion of the consecration ceremony the W . M . designate was impressively installed into his office by Bro . Letchworth , and Bro . Jordan afterwards invested his Officers for ' the year . The Consecrating Officers , as well as Bro . Lord Geo . ' Hamilton Prov . G . M . Middx ., were elected Honorary Members .

A Committee , consisting of the W . M ., Wardens , Secretary , and Treasurer , was formed to draw up the Bye-laws , and the following gentlemen were proposed for initiation : —Messrs . G . E . Abbott , S . W . Barnes , W . Palmby , G . Croucher , and W . Chambers ; and as joining members : —C . O . Betts 1612 , O . Ardley 1612 , G . Cole P . M . Ml P . P . G . O . Middx .

. Several letters of apology for non attendance were read , and after hearty good wishes the Lodge was closed , and the Brethren ' adjourned to a banquet . The toast of the Queen was received with great acclamation . As was also the M . W . G . M .

The W . M ., in proposing the Grand Officers , said they were " ready to do any work they might be called upon for , no matter how short the notice . He coupled with the toast the name of Past G . Chaplain Bro . Bedford , who , in the course of his response , said he thought he was a Mason before anyone present was born . When he was made a Grand Officer the Masons then

only numbered about as many as there were now Lodges—over two thousand . The Consecrating Officers toast followed . The masterly way in which Bro . Letchworth had performed the ceremony and the way he had been assisted was a pleasure to all who were present .

Bro . Letchworth , replying , said the Brethren , after listening to his voice at no inconsiderable length , would not desire him to inflict upon them a lengthy speech . He thanked them for the cordial reception they had given to the toast . No duty gave him greater pleasure than to assist in consecrating a Lodge which bad such a great future before it as theirs . He acknowledged the

assistance of those who had helped him in the unavoidable absence of Bros . Brownrigg and Eichardson , aud expressed thanks for the election of the Consecrating Officers as hon . members . Considering their numberless duties the Brethren could understand their visits would uot be frequent , yet he hoped they might attend on some future occasion . The Grand Secretary referred

to the time he used to ride through Ealing when what were now beautiful streets were then green lanes , and concluded by saying , as Consecrating Officer the privilege devolved upon him , which he highly appreciated , of proposing success to the Ealing Lodge . It had given him great pleasure to consecrate their Lodge , and

he congratulated the members ou having a Brother of such experience as W . M . at the most critical period of the Lodge ' s existence . Its success depended on the way the W . M . carried out his duties . He was sure he was expressing the feelings of all present that the Ealing Lodge had before it a career of great success , and he heartily proposed the health of the W . M .

Bro . Jordan W . M . thanked Bro . Letchworth for the eulogistic terms in which he had proposed success to the Ealing Lodge , and also for his kind remarks as regarded himself . He certainly had the prosperity of the Ealing Lodge very much at heart . It started on a fair and firm basis , with a balance in hand after all expenses had been paid . He thanked the founders for placing him as W . M ., and assured them nothing would be wanting on his part to make the Lodge a great and lasting

success . The toast of the Charities was responded toby Bro . McLeod , in a most vigorous and powerful speech . He appealed to the

Consecration.

Brethren to enable the Boys School to be carried on , by a steady flow of subscriptions , and not only to remember his particular Institution—but the Girls and Old Peoples' also . He hoped at the coming Festival it would not fall to his lot to announce a smaller amount than the other Charities , although he recognised this was an exceptional year , with exceptional calls on all .

The W . M . proposed the toast of the Visitors , coupling with it the names of Bros . Grey W . M . 1612 , Drew Bear W . M . 2022 , Shurmur Past G . Treas . Essex , Hunt P . M . 172 2512 , Foster W . M . 1608 , Plowright I . P . M . 193 , King , Vicar of Christchurch , and Allsopp , all of whom responded .

The remarks of Bros . Grey and Drew Bear , the Worshipful Masters of neighbouring Lodges , tended to show the goodwill existing , and their desire for the prosperity of the Ealing Lodge . Bro . King spoke as to the happy selection of the name of the Lodge , which would give it an amount of prestige not possessed by the other two in the town . The whole of the visitors thanked the Brethren for their hospitality , and concurred in wishing the Lodge prosperity , with every happiness among the members .

The W . M ., in a few remarks proposed the Press , coupling the names of Bros . E . T . West , H . Dehane , and Bothright , representatives of the " Freemason , " the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE , and the local paper , the " Middlesex County Times , " all of whom responded .

The W . M . gave the Officers , in terms that could be nothing but pleasing to them all , especially so to Bro . G . H . Gabb the Secretary . The Tyler ' s toast followed . In addition to those who supplied the music in the Lodge , the programme was sustained by Madame Constance Martin and Bro . Dudley Causton .

The wines provided for the banquet—alike excellent in quality and plentiful in quantity—were supplied by Bro . Crawlev , of the firm of F . S . Stowell , of Ealing . " . " ?

The Visitors included Bros . Karl von Donat Steward 172 , A . E . Lucas Organist 382 , Charles 0 . E . Betts 1612 , O . Ardley 1612 , H . W . Schartau J . W . 1549 P . P . G . Organist Middlesex , George Cole P . M . 441 P . P . S . G . D ., Wingrdve Ives 1929 , Charles Hunt W . M . 861 , Leonard S . Guy W . M . 1612 , William Shurmur 2374 P . P . G . Treasurer , Charles H . Bestow W . M . 2374 , H . Dehane P . M . 1543 P . P . G . S . D . Essex , Percy S . Cooper I . G . 1694 , H . 3 . Cousens S . D .

172 , W . H . Newson 172 , George King P . M . Secretary 172 , William Hunt P . M . 172 , J . B . Kvans P . M . 172 , L . Hollingsworth 172 , T . G . Poster I . P . M . 1608 , Edward Newson 1612 , 3 . S . Goldstein J . D . 2265 , W . Battams P . M . 1777 , Thomas W . Allsopp I . P . M . 2492 , T . G . Pemberton 2206 , W . J . Gore 2551 , Henry Sadler 2148 Grand Tyler , W . Robertson , W . K . R . Bedford Past

Grand Chaplain , A . A . Hardy J . W . 382 , C . J . Smith J . W . 2648 , Prank Adams P . M . 1259 , R . T . West 1744 , Dudley Causton 102 , E . T . Pargeter 1314 , W . Templeton King Chaplain 2022 , P . S . Plowright I . P . M . 193 , E . Rice 1853 , 0 . F . Poore 1612 , A . T . Overall 2346 , E . Branscombe 1929 P . P . G . Organist Surrey , T . Drew Bear W . M . 2022 . and W . Gibbs 34 and 2512 . :

The installation meeting of the Barnet Lodge , No . 2509 , was held on Thursday , Bro . John Falconer being placed in the chair by his predecessor in office Bro . J . A . Witthaus . A report of the meeting will appear next week . , ,

Gloucestershire.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE .

THE Provincial Grand Lodge of Gloucestershire was held at Cheltenham , on Wednesday , 9 th inst ., and was attended by about 150 Brethren from the Lodges of the county . Amongst those present were the Provincial Grand Master Eight Hon . Sir Michael E . Hicks Beach , Bart ., M . P ., Chancellor of the Exchequer , and the Deputy Prov . Grand Master E . V . Vassar-Smith .

Provincial Grand Lodge Officers were appointed for the ensuing year as follow : '

Bros . Geo . Norman 246 - - - Senior Warden Rev . A . G . Grisewood 951 - - - Junior Warden Rev . W . S . Fallon 82 Chaplain J . David 702 Registrar James Bruton 839 - - - - Treasurer James B . Winterbotham 82 Secretary Charles Williams 246 - - - Senior Deacon

A . H . Gibbons 592 - - - - Junior Deacon E . W . Henley 839 - - - - Superintendent of Works ' H . 3 . Brewer 702 - Director of Ceremonies . R . A . Pox 1363 ... - Assistant Dir . of Cers . J . Buscombe 2407 - - - Sword Bearer C . Ro £ ri 005 - . - . - . - - } Standard Bearers

Dr . W . Stuart Macgowan 82 - - Organist M . Llewellyn Evans 82 - - - Assistant Secretary T . Robins 493 - Pursuivant Horace Fisher 82 - - - - | Cf . „ , „_ j St . A . R . Wilson 82 - - - { Stewards W . Window 855 - - - Tyler .

After Grand Lodge , which was held in the Assembly Eooms , the Brethren adjourned to the Pittville Park , where a banquet was served in the Pump Boom . — " Birmingham Post . "