Dorsetshire.

DORSETSHIRE .

THE annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge is to be held on Wednesday week , the 23 rd inst ., at Sherborne , where the Brethren are making every preparation to ensure the success of the gathering and the comfort of those who attend .

South Wales (Eastern Division).

SOUTH WALES ( EASTERN DIVISION ) .

r ¥ lHE interesting ceremonies of opening the new Masonic _ I _ Temple at Cardiff , the consecration of the new Duke of York Lodge and installation of Bro . C . E . Dovey P . M . P . P . J . G . W . as Worshipful Master , took place on Thursday , 26 th ult ., and attracted a largo gathering of Masons , hailing from all parts of South Wales and many distant Provinces .

The new Duke of York Lodge will make the fourth now in existence at Cardiff , and it is intended at an early date to establish another new Lodge for professional men , which will be chartered under the title of the " Prince Llewellyn . " The formation of these new Lodges is indicative of the great progress that

Freemasonry is making in South Wales . It is worthy of note thafc there are now twenty-one Craft Lodges in the eastern division of South Wales , ten Lodges in the western division , and ten in Monmouthshire . The higher orders of Masonry are also well patronised .

The opening of the new Masonic Temple will mark a new era in the Freemasonry of the Welsh metropolis , as the ceremony formed a fitting climax to many years of labour and enterprise

on the part of energetic local Brethren , who desired to see the local Craft properly and suitable housed . Upwards of 400 Masons attended the ceremonies at the new Temple on the opening day , and the greatest enthusiasm was evinced .

The proceedings commenced shortly after one o ' clock , when the Prov . Grand Master Bro . Lord Llangattock opened the entrance door of the Lodge Room with a chastely designed silver

key , suitably inscribed in commemoration of the event . Prov . Grand Lodge was opened shortly after two o ' clock , and letters of apology for non-attendance were received from several distinguished Craftsmen .

The report of the Provincial Grand Lodge Committee was then read , from which it appeared that a petition for a Lodge at Treharris had been presented , and would receive the consideration of the Prov . Grand Master in due course . The Prov . Grand

Treasurer s accounts showed a credit balance of £ 166 . It was recommended tbat 50 guineas be paid to the Eoyal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and a like amount to the Masonic Educational and Widows' Fund of the Province .

During the past year Bro . W . G . Davies P . M . 364 acted as Prov . Grand Steward for the Koyal Masonic School for Girls and it was further reported that up to August 1895 the local Masonic Educational and Widows' Fund bad a credit balance of £ 1 , 464 . A large number of grants were recommended .

It was announced that during the year ended 31 st December 1894 , 106 candidates had been initiated in the Province , while there were twenty-eight joining members . The report was adopted .

Bro . W . H . Lewis , of Swansea , was elected Prov . Grand Treasurer for the year , and the Prov , Grand Master presented Bro . W . G . Davies 364 P . G . S . W . and Bro . F . P . Adey 1754 P . P . G . S . W . with charity jewels , in recognition of their efforts in connection with the Benevolent Institutions .

Bro . W . 0 . Peace P . M . 960 P . P . G . S . W . then presented Bro . C . Carey Thomas P . M . 960 P . P . G . S . B ., the chairman of the Committee which had charge of the arrangements in connection

with the establishment of the Masonic Temple , with a silver salver on behalf of the Masronic Hall Company , in acknowledgment of the invaluable services rendered by him in that capacity .

The Provincial Grand Master , assisted by the Deputy Prov . Grand Master Bro Marmaduke Tennant P . A . G . D . C . of Eng and the Provincial Grand Officers then consecrated the Masonic

Temple in a solemn and impressive manner . The appointments and investiture of Provincial Grand Officers for the ensuing year followed , and fche Lodge was then closed in due form .

The new Provincial Grand Officers are as follow : — Bro . Honry Simons 237 ... Senior Warden Carey Thomas 900 - - - - Junior Warden Rov . W . Williams 1807 - - - ) ~ , , . Rev . D . Phillips 1578 - - f Chapl & ins

W . H . Lewis 1573 - - - - Treasurer H . C . Ensor 900 - - - - Registrar W . Whittington 304 - - - Secretary H . J . Thomas 237 - - - - Senior Deacon

F . G . Harrison 30 - - - - Junior Deacon John Evans 1578 .... Superintendent of Works J . Sheridan 1992 .... Director of Ceremonies D . A . Thomas 110 - - - - Assist . Director of Cers . John Shaw 2547 .... Sword Bearer

South Wales (Eastern Division).

M . G . Roberts 833 - - - - 1 r ,, , , > W . L . Edwards 2357 - - - } Standard Bearers H . C . Rich 051 .... Organist M . Whittington 304 ... Assistant Secretary

T . H . Tutton 2332 .... Pursuivant Rees Rees 079 .... Deputy Pursuivant M . P . S . Tozer 1752 ... W . Richards 900 - - - -

E . L . Pontifex 1323 - - - } Stewards A . J . Harris 30 - - - - j Carl Frederick Hansen 1754 - - ' Geo . Bullerwell .... Tyler .

Brother George Clarry P . P . G . D . C . admirably performed tbe duties of Acting Director of Ceremonies during the day , and was complimented upon the manner in which the work was performed . The Provincial Grand Master and Bro . Marmaduke Tennant

subsequently proceeded with the consecration of the Duke of York Lodge , No , 2453 and the installation of Brofcher Charles E . Dovey as Worshipful Master , and were assisted in the ceremonials by the Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge . After his nstallation Bro . C . E . Dovey , who was most cordially received , appointed and invested his Officers .

Bro . C . E . Dovey P . P . J . G . W . the first Master of the new Lodge , was initiated into the mysteries of Freemasonry at the Kennard Lodge , Pontypool , in 1875 , and in the same year'he joined the Bute Lodge , No . 960 , Cardiff . He is a Life Governor of all the Masonic Institutions , and one of the founders of the

Caer-daf Kose Croix Chapter . In 1888 Bro . Dovey acted as Secretary of the Bute Lodge , and in 1890 he was installed as Worshipful Master . He occupies a high local position in Eoyal Arch Masonry , and has held the positions of Provincial Grand

Director of Ceremonies and Provincial Grand Junior Warden . Brother Dovey is exceedingly popular among the Masons of Glamorganshire and Monmouthshire and his decision to take office as W . M . of the Duke of York Lodge was hailed with satisfaction by the Cardiff Brethren .

The day ' s proceedings concluded with an enjoyable banquet at the Assembly Booms of the Town Hall , the repast being served by Mr . W . G . Hunt , of the Queen ' s Hotel . The company numbered upwards of 250 , and the proceedings were of the mosfc harmonious character . The Provincial Grand Master presided .

After dinner fche health of the Provincial Grand Master was submitted in eloquent terms by Bro . Marmaduke Tennant Deputy Provincial Grand Master , who spoke in high terms of the active interest which Lord Llangattock evinced in the duties of his high Masonic office . The toast was drunk with honours .

Lord Llangattock , in responding , referred with pleasure to the vitality of Freemasonry in Cardiff , and to the progress which the Order was making throughout the Eastern Division . Bro . Badley next proposed the Masonic Charities , fco which Bro . Terry responded .

The health of the Deputy Provincial Grand Master and Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge was enthusiastically drunk , and Brother Marmaduke Tennant having responded , Brother

Thomas Matthews proposed the health of fche W . M . of the Duke of York Lodge Brother C . E . Dovey , who received a most flattering reception , and made a very felicitous response . Other toasts followed .

During the evening Brother Arthur Johnson ' s Band played a selection of music , and a musical programme was gone through under the direction of Brother G . H . Cole , F . C . O . A word of

praise should be accorded Bro . F . J . Ferris Bailey , upon whom the responsibilities of the arrangements for the banquet devolved . The responsibilities were discharged with great administrative skill .

The new Temple was formerly used as a place of worship . The building , however , has undergone a complete transformation , and is probably now the most compact , commodious , and gorgeously-appointed Masonic Temple outside the metropolis . The building is entered by swing doors , which admit of access to

a long corridor extending the length of the building . These doors are panelled with cathedral glass bearing five Masonic emblems . Branching off the corridor ( the flooring of which is of pitch pine ) are lavatories , cloak-rooms , and other offices . At the head of the staircase situated at the end of the corridor

is a lesser Lodge Boom , furnished with the appointments of the old hall , and this can be used for Lodges of Instructiou or monthly gatherings , where the attendance is small . At the back of the building is a large Banqueting Hall , with thirteen tables arranged semi-circularly . This room is capable of accommodating

100 guests , and , as there are cooking ranges fitted up in the large kitchen adjoining the Banqueting Hall , the catering can bs done on the premises . Outside the Lodge Boom are two robing rooms . The Temple itself has been appointed and ornamented in a most luxurious manner .

The Worshipful Master ' s chair is the gift of the Provincial Grand Master Bro . Lord Llangattock . It is a magnificent piece ' of furniture , beautifully carved , and bears the arms and motto of the noble donor . The Lodge Room , it may be mentioned , is 58 ft . long by 40 ft .