The Abbey Lodge. No. 2030.

have so Darned it , not only as a tribute of hononr and respect to its m )» hty past , but because we know and feel that its traditions aud memories are so glorious that the vory dust enshrined withiu its walls is in itself recreative and inspiring . To any one this connection with Westminster would invest the Lodge with an added interest , but to him that interest was tenfold greater . He need not say that

any thing that connected him with Westminster gave him the greatest satisfaction and pleasure , for it was carrying on and fulfilling a line of association—into which circumstances had happily called himwhich was very dear to him , and which he should always endeavour to strengthen and perpetuate , though he could not hope to compete in interest with those two illustrious characters who had successively

formed and maintained it . Sir Francis Bnrdett , one of the most ausp icious and singular figures in the political history of this century , the head of a family whose representative we are so glad to see hero to-night in the person of Sir Francis Burdett j the head of a family whioh had sent many representatives to Parliament before him ; a family—without hesitation , he could say it in the presence of

the Garter King-at . Arms , Sir Albert Woods—with an uninterrupted line of descent from the Conquest ; possessed of two splendid estates , gifted with the inward and outward graces of an English gentleman of the olden type , did , as your representative champion the rights and liberties of the people wherever and whenever they were assailed , and did so with a warmth of conviction ,

with a power of eloquence , and a purity of motive that rendered him a popular idol . And , after him , his daughter—just as much a 3 he , but perhaps in a different way—the champion of the rights , the repressor of the wrongs , of her less favoured fellow-subjects ; not less than he keenly jealous of tho honour and reputation of the country , took np and continued her association with Westminster

in a spirit which has endeared her to its citizens , which has placed in its poorest district a beautiful , church , the centre—with its parish organisation , so much of the success of which is due to our Bro . Senior Warden—the centre of an aotivo Christian influence , a spirit which has connected her with many useful movements within its precincts , the last and not the least when with her own hands she laid tho

foundation-stone of this noble building in which we are assombled , this enduring monument of enterprise and progress . If he had said too much on this point he hoped to be forgiven ; he was only showing the extent to which the position in which he was placed was enhanced in value by its indirect connection with her whom wo value above all . He would remind the brethren that her father was a Mason , and that

she herself had always shown an interest in the Craft , as witness the Bnrdett-Contts Lodge , which years ago she patronised , and whose present W . Master we are glad to see here . You have already seen how it has pleased the founders to illustrate and perpetnato these associations by adopting our united shield , emblazoned on the front of the Abbey , as the arms of the Lodge . Apart from those

considerations special to himself , and which onhanced the depth and sincerity of his response , there were general reasons for congratulation on tho formation of the Lodge which would be present to their minds in sufficient force not to require enumeration . But he would point again to the special opportunities it would give to binding together in a confraternal and sympathetic union men who had common objects ,

common aims , and , to an extent , kindred occupations in the great work of local self-government as organised and concentrated in this Town Hall . Union in this , as in other cases , is strength—strength to the individual member who is well and fortunate , for who will deny that each member partakes of and gains from tho combined influence of the whole body as well as from the particular and special influence

of overy other member ; while for tho less fortnnate and prosperous also this union is strength . In these days , when the struggle of life is so keen , when tho raco is to the swift and the battle to the strong many a weaker brother , crushed by some passing storm of adversitybis cries for help lost in the din and rush of the advancing tide of life ' s struggle—is apt to bo left helpless by the wayside . Where can

such a one find a securer haven of rest and relief than within the bosom of an Order whioh is so liberal and generous ? In conclusion , he would only say that he trusted that those and the many other beneficial objects of our Order might grow and prosper in this Lodge . So may it then , in the words of tho motto of tho Burdett-Coutts family , " Cleave Fast" —may it ever be tho home of loyalty and faith ,

of loyalty to the Crown and Constitution , loyalty to all the nobler and kindlier instincts and aspirations of man , loyalty to those great principles of justice and mercy which lie at the base of this great Order ; and , lastly , may it be the home of faith , of that great and priceless treasure which Freemasonry has in no small degree , it seemed tohirn in . these latter days of ours , the high privilege and duty of safe

guarding—the home of faith in the Great Architect of the Universe . _ The toast of the Consecrating Officer met with a most hearty reception , and after Colonel Clerke had made a suitable reply , the Visitors were complimented , ' and this toast elicited replies from Bros . Sir John Whitaker Ellis , Philbrick , Q . C . and E . Clarke , Q . C . Bro . Baker acknowledged the toast given in hononr of tho Officers , and the

Tyler in duo course closed tho proceedings . Amongst those who attended , in addition to thosoalready enumerated , we may mention : — Sir Francis Burdett Prov . G . M . Middlesex , Gen . J . Stwlholmo Brownri gg Prov . G . M . Surrey , J- Whitaker Ellis Past . J . G . W ., Col . J . Creaton P . G . Treasurer , Ex-Sheriff Bnrt , Sir J . B . Monekton President Board of General PnrposesCaptain N . G . Philips P . G . D .,

, E . A . Philbrick D . P . G . M . Esaex , Thomas Fenn P . G . D ., Horace Jones Past G . S . of Works , Magnus Ohr-n P . G . Asst . Director of Ceremonies , Col . T . Prendergast Walsh , Or . Ramsay P . M . 259 , E . C . Massey P . M . 1297 , D . Kerrell P . M . 145 , ' 1 ' - W . Eastgato W . M . 1503 , E . Delacoste I . P . M . 1027 , W . Jackaou W . M . 10 , J . Terry Sccretarv R . M . B . I ., W . W . Morgan W . M . 211 , J . While P . M . 22 S , J .

McGaref-Hogg , F . J . Wray P . M . 1 B 03 , C . A . Cottebrunc P . G . P ., D . Stronrl , W . Vincent P . M . 1 G 2-1 P . G . S . IJ . Middlesex , James Dotterill 162 t , W . Lloyd 115 , Thomas Nettlcship If . 11 , C . Sweeting 700 . J . V . Hallet 907 , Thomas Cross r . M . 119-1 , J . C . Flattnrlov P . M . Ifi 21 , W . Henry Harris W . M . 172 , J . K . Bnrch , E . J . Flood , C . Holder . 1791 , \\ . Williams W . M . 1791 , G . Grambart P . M . 162-1 , G . Whitaker 1791 ,

The Abbey Lodge. No. 2030.

J . W . Ray D . C . 1621 , John Green P . M . 27 , W . Maxsted W . M . 180 . A . Price 1608 , R . J . Marner 53 S , J . Kent , J . I . Cantle P . M . 1257 , Thomas Bull P . M . 145 , R . Drysdalo 1766 . C . Corley 957 , H . Hall 145 , J . Pain 133 , W . Breanfc 1641 , George Everett , P . M . 177 , Ac . & c The musical arrangements of the day were entrusted to Bro , Henry Baker , who had secured tho services of Bros . Schartau , Fryer , Nettleship , Lloyd , and Maunder . At the after-dinner entertainuiont Mesdame 3 Antoinette Sterling and Agnes Ross also assisted .

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

rpHE monthly meeting of the Committee was held at Freemasons ' -L Hall , on the 12 th inst . The Secretary reported tho death of four annuitants . The petition of one candidate was approved , ami tho name entered on the list . A vote of thanks was passed to Bro . S . ' r John Monekton for having , at a short notice , consented to presido at tho Festival on 26 th alt ., in consequence of the unavoidable ah-oueo of Bro . J . Derby Allcroft . The Secretary also reported that fio

subscriptions announced on that occasion had been incroas-d to £ 14 , 610 ; also that a legacy of £ 10 had been left to the Wi lo . v . V Fnnd by Bro . Duncombe , of Little Bytham . The motion of which notice had been given was considered , several members of ilio Committeo taking part in tho discussion . When put to the vote only five members out of a Committee of 29 voted in its favour .

In addition to tho increase in the proceods of the Festival which wo announced la 3 t week , further extensions have been made , and the total now stands at £ 14 , 612 10 s . The new lists that have been received are those of Bro . F . G . Brown , No . 1 , £ 10 10 s ; Bro . IF . P . Gordon , No . 907 , £ 37 163 ; and Bro . John Hammond , No . 19 S 6 , £ 45 3 s . These , with the further additions made to lists already

received , givo a total for London amounting to £ 8 , 42213 a . As regards the Provinces , Bro . Toms , unattached , Berk 3 and Bucks , has sent in £ 10 10 s , and Bro . J . M . Collins , No . 18 > 1 , Surrey , £ 5 5 s . The totals for Hants and tho Isle of Wight and Suffolk havo boon increased by £ 17 and £ 21 respectively . Theso givo tho Provincial aggregilo ns £ 6 , 219 17 s , and tho grand total at £ 14 , 642 10 s . It should be ln-.

'iitioned that Friends in Couucil Lodge , No . 1382 , ranks anrnn , ' tho London three-figure lists , the sum of £ 9110 s , as first annotin-ed , having been since increased to £ 105 10 a . Tho final meeting of the Board of Stewards was held at Freemasons'Hall on Friday , tho 7 th inst . Bro . Edgar Bowyer Grand Standard Bearer and Hon . Treasurer to the Board , ocoupied the

chair , and the minutes of previous meeting having beon confirmed , a letter from Bro . H . B . Marshall , apologising for his inability to attend , was read . It wa 3 reported that 338 brethren and 127 ladies were present at tho Festival , and that the total collection , which had originally been stated as £ 14 , 343 , had since been raided to £ 14 , 609 83 6 d , with nine lists stilll outstanding . A vote of thanks

from the Committee of Management to the Board of Stewards for their exertions was read , after which a most cordial voto of thanks was passed to Bro . Allcroft Grand Treasurer , for having undertaken the responsibilities of Chairman , as well as to Bro . Sir ] J . B . Monekton P . G . D ., President of the Board of General Purposes , who , at almost a

moments notice , supplied tho place of Bro . Allcroft , when it was found tho lattcr ' s state of health prevented his attending . In addition to the valnablo services rondorcd by tho Secrotary , the services of Bros . Mason and Recknell were recognised . The Board then dissolved , after voting a resolution of thanks to Bro . Bowyer for presiding .

An old friend , which some forty years ago wc can well remember as the " Cat , and Salutation , " and whicli will b ' found in oar earlier Lodge Lists us tho "Salutation and Cat , " is once again opening its hospitable portals to the public under the shorter and certainly more convenient

title of the " Salutation . " This well-known ho-d . e ' ry i : i Newgate Street has just been entirely rebuilt and r <> -d ' . : •¦¦ ¦ •. rated , and when the interior arrangements are co npleti-d will certainl y take rank among the best-appointed houses iu the metropolis . A special feature , and one on which

Bro . Liebmann , of the Urban Lodge , No . 1196 , who is the proprietor , lays particular stress , will be the Lodge accommodation , comprising a spacious Masonic Temple with tho usual rooms adjoining , Lodge Rooms , and Banqueting

Halls . The greatest care has been taken in arrano-ino- arid fittin g them , and the decorations , which are elaborate and artistic , aro in admirable keeping with the special dmx . ic . ter assigned to this portion of Bro . Liebmann ' s establishment . At tho same limj it must be admitted that iho othor

portions of the promises have been quite as elaboratel yarranged and fitted , and it is beyond all doubt that the cuisine and the wines are such as only our very best houses are likely to furnish . We speak now from tho experience of a hurried visit only , but we are looking forward to a

closer and more complete inspection of the tavern on so : no earl y occasion , and then we shall bo in a position to describe more full y the excellent arrangements which Bro . Licbiuanu has been making for the convenience of his more immediate patrons in particular and the public iu wnfirtil .

Death.

DEATH .

HIIANJJ . —On tho ttii instant ., sitter an illness or only twelve days , at School , in Margate , CCEOIUHS A LICXAXDKB , used S years and six mor . lhs , bclov-nd youngest sou of Brother J . K . SHA . , Victoria Street , U . W ., deeply regretted . Interred at Erompton Cemetery .