Consecration Of The Ethelbert Lodge, No. 2099.

honour of being associated with this fcoast , and desired to thank ^ the brethren for the hearty way in which th * y were pleased to receive him . He considered ifc a very great ; honour to represent K ^ nt in Grand Lodge , and felt that his high office had been conferred ou him as a recognition of the way in which Masonry was worked in

the Province . Tbe W . M . gave tbe next toast . He rose to do so with a great amount of pleasure , and at the same time a small amount of pain—pain because he felt he was not able to do justice to the fcoast . and pleasure because he knew it was one sure to be well received . He knew that any shortcomings on his part in proposing ifc would be

more than compensated for by the hearty reception ifc wonld meet at the hands of those present . Ifc was the toasfc of the R . W . tbe provincial Grand Master of Kent , Viscount Holmesdale . In fche high positions held by his lordship ho had many important duties to perform , yet he never omitted to spare time

to do anything he could for the Masons of his Province . He had been a most painstaking rnler , and had won for himself the respect and esteem of every brother in his own district as well aa the respect of those outside of it . The Provincial Grand Master felt very much obliged to those present for the kind manner in which they hid

honoured the toasfc . He should be sorry , however , if fche recep fciou was ocherwise , for he hoped the day would never come when the toast of the Provincial Grand Mister was nofc cordially received in Kent . The W M . had spoken in somewhat Mattering terms of his having come down thafc day to perform the ceremony of conseora'ion , hat he considered that if a Provincial Grand Master was made for

anything , it should be to carry out his duties , and no part of the work which fell to his lot could be more important thafc that of assisting at the establishment ; of a now Lodge . The ceremony of consecration was one of the simplest and most graceful of the ceremonies of the Craft , and at fche same time one of the most important . The

addition of another Lodge to fche already long list of Lodges iu Kenfc was but adding another centre for Masonic work . He hoped thafc centre might be carried on with the Masonio spirit which was conspicuous in the other Lodges of Kent , and that ifc would prosper and become a true centre of Masonic usefulness .

He felt they mi g ht ; all congratulate themselves on fche work they had done that day , and if they might so congratulate themselves , how much more so was it possible for their Provincial Grand Master to congratulate himself . Bro , Banks Past Prov . Grand Chaplain was entrusted with the next toasfc . The practice of toast giving , he said ,

was a heathenism and a barbarism which should be done away with , and yet there were occasions when its continuance might prove bene , ficial . Many of those present would remember that on a former occasion when he was called upon to propose this toasfc—the health of the Deputy Prov . Grand Master and the rest of the Provincial

Grand Officers—Bro . Eastes was in somewhat ; bad health ; now he was among them in the enjoyment of perfect health . He felt that the way in which the toast had then been received and the enthusiastic and prayerful way in which the brethren had reap nded to it had done something towards the banishment of Bro . Eistes' old enemy ,

which had robbed him of his peace and comfort . In proposing the health of the Deputy of the Province he did not think he now ne"d wish him restoration to health , but long enjoyment of that blessing , which had been restored to him . No Provincial Grand Master conld possibly be blessed with a better Deputy than Bro . Eistes . The

Deputy was , so to speak , the eye of the Provincial Grand Master , it was his dnty to go about making notes where merit was deserving of honour , and reporting such cases to the head of the district . Bro . Eastes carried out this duty most efficiently , and was a noble example of the way in which a brother should stick to his duty in Freemasonry .

Referring to the absence of the Senior Warden of the Province , Sir W . Hart Dyke , at present engaged in arduous work in the sisfcer isle , Bro . Banks wished him success in his work . A man must be a very brave oue . he said , who undertook the ruling of a country so bristling with difficulties and dangers as Ireland was . and merited the

approval of all with whom he was associated . The Provincial Grand Officers of Kent were a hard-working and enthusiastic body , bnfc of their merits as a whole it ill became him to say too much , as he had but very recently joined their ranks . Lest , therefore , he might be considered as singing his own praise , he would immediatel y give the

toast . Bro . Eastes had great difficulty in responding , as ho did nob know how to adequately acknowledge fche kind words which had fallen from the lips of Bro . Banks . The Provincial Grand Officers , both Present ; and Past , had had especial pleasure in attending and taking part in the establishment of this new Lodge , which

they hoped would enjoy every prosperity . It was at all times a gratifying spectacle to witness the launch of a new ship , and in the case of this new Lodge all had been done , so far aa the authorities were concerned , to start ifc on a prosperous voyage . It remained tor its members , and the brethren they selected as its ilots

p , to steer clear of the shoals and pitfalls which wonld beset them on every side in the conduct of their new Lodge . He felt satisfied Ihey would take care what men they introduced into their bod ge and into Freemasonry—then they would become one of the most prosperous Lodges in the Province and a credit fo the

Order . He would remind them that strength did not consist of Diere numbers , but rather of the quality of the men who were ad . nutted . Speaking to the toast generally , be said the Provincial Officers of Kent were gratified at the r < ception invariably given to them wherever they went , while as regarded their aptitude for the

offices the difficulty had always been to deci ' e who should be chosen u ' orn among the many eligible . The W . M . followed .- h- had passed 8 " i . e of tbe toasts over to others whom he felt were better able to " ° justice to them , but the next ou the list he felt it was his duty to sabuiit to fche best of his ability . It was the health of Brother . - ~ j . - ~ u . . . . . . ^ -....... ... "iUOJCl

, v ard , the Director of Ceremonies . They had been very pleaded t ° see the high honour recently conferred on Bro . Ward b y **' appointment to the office of Junior Warden of the Province . Ue felt sure there was not ouo brother in the Province who ^ grudged him bis position . Bro . Ward had rendered to the new Lod ge the most valuable of services , Ho had giyen up aome days of

Consecration Of The Ethelbert Lodge, No. 2099.

his time in order to ensure the comfort of those who to > k part in the consecration and in arranging for the proper carrying out of tho ceremony . His labours had resulted mo-it successfully . He ventured to say thafc no more efficient Master of Ceremonies was anywhere to be fonnd . Bro . Ward acknowledged the compliment paid him and

the too kind expressions of thanks which had been awarded for fche poor services he had beeu able to render the new L > dge . Thafc waa the fourteenth time he had ha I the honour of a -ting aa Director of Ceremonies at the Consecration of new Lodges in the Province , and if he had not performed his duties properly it was not for want of practice .

Fie then stood in a very high position among the Freemasons of Kenfc , ind fully appreciated the honour which had been conferred upon him . The R . W . Provincial Grand Master next proposed fche toast if the Worshi p ful M ister . They had heard a great deal thafc day < f two classes of brethren ; there were two classes then present , and

he felt sur * both would r > ceive the toast with cordiality . Those who had come from distant parts of the Province , and from distant ; Provinces , as well as those who were members of the Lodge itsulf , would unite in wishing health and prosperity to the first ; Master of the new Lodge . Bro . W . tcherhad aire id y filled tin office of Muter of a Lodge ,

and wonld bring practical experience to bear on th ) work he was called upon to perform . It was a further matter of congratulation 'o him ( Lord Holmesdale ) thafc fche first Master had already won fche honour of the purple of Provincial Grand Lodge . The W . M . returned his sincere thanks . He felt honoured at being selected aa first

Mister of the Lodge , and felt it even a higher honour to have so many distinguished brethren present to support him in fche opening of his Lodge . He then proposed fche toast of the Visitors . Without their presence that day the Ethelbirfc Lodge would bare made bufc a poor show . He trusted that in the future their meet .

ings would always be graced with Visitors . Bro . Donaldson replied , flis heart was in Masonry , end he hoped to have many moreoppor . tunities of showing his devotion to the Order . The way in whioh everything had been done that day was most gratifying to the many Visitors who had attended . They one and all wished the new Lodge

the greatest success . Bro . Page followed . He felt a greafc amount ; of pleasnre in attending , and was sure all those present that day would be willing to do anything in bheir power to advance fche interests of the Lodge . Bro . Farley proposed the toast of the Donors to the Lodge . The establishment

of a new Lodge entailed greafc responsibilities on those who started it , but in this case they had received most valuable aid from all around them . . He trusted they mi ght so conduct the Lodge aa to make it another jewel in the crown of Masonry , and thafc through its instrumentality Masonry might advance in Heme Biy and prove of

benefit to the neighbourhood and world afc large . Tbe toisfc having been acknowledged , Bro . Spencer proposed that of tho Charities . Among the many virtues possessed by the Craft none was greater than i hat of Charity . The toast was ono which did not need many words of introduction in the Province of Kent ; he felt he wns asking them to

drink to a toasfc they were all anxious to honour . B o . Binckes responde I . During the earlier part of the evening he hid been seated at the lower end of the hall , and had there heard the rem irka of two brethren—in regard to himself—one had said he supposed fchey should have the sime old tale , and the other bad asked , at

what time of fche evening do yon spin your yarn ? He should not either tell the same tale or spin the same yarn , except it was to once again thank them for their kindness in Kent . He hoped the new Lodge would prosper , and that it would prove a farther means of strength to the already strong Province of Kent . Io was nofc

necessary for him to plead among fche Masons of Kent , for he knew of no Province where more steady consi-tency was shown than waa the case there , or from whence a more steady flow of support was given to the Masonic Institutions . Ho was gratified to find that the

welcime he had always received in Kent had not been lessened or worn off by the number of times hehad been present . The Officers of the Lodge were next honoured , and then the Tyler gave the coneluding toast , bringing to a close one of the pleasantest days we have ever spent—even in Kentish Masonry .

Queen's Westminster Lodge, No. 2021.

QUEEN'S WESTMINSTER LODGE , No . 2021 .

AN emergency meeting of this Lodge was held on the 14 th insfc . j at fche Masonic Hall , 8 * Red Lion-square . Present—Bros , Capt . Probyn P . M . 18 W . M ., R . Payne S . W ., Kerapton P . M . as J . W ., C Bellerby Trea-mrer , G . Coop Secretary , A . Jones J . D ., Hunt as I . G . ; P . M . ' s Capfc . G . Lambert P . G . S . B . F . Delevante . After Lodge was opened Bro . Col . Shipway was raised to the 3 rd degree

by Bro . Payne P . M ., who worked the ceremony , by the courtesy of the W . M . Bro . F . Dray was parsed by Rro . Capt . G . Lambert P . G . S . B . ; both of tbe ceremonies were excellently rendered . The Lodge was then closed nntil tho third Tuesday in October . Bro / - » Dusterwald 1586 ancl H . M . Levy P . M . 188 were present as Visitors .

Kingsland Lodge of Instruction , JYo . 1693 . —At the meeting held on Monday last , at Bro . Baker ' s , Cock Tavern , High , bury , N . Present—Bros . Marks W . M ., Turner S . W ., Ware J . W ,, Collingridge Secretary , Fluck S . D ., Rhodes J . D ., Poti . erI . G ., Weeden acting Prtcptor . Lodgo was opened , and the minutes of the last

meeting were lead and confirmed . The ceremony of initiation was rehearsed , B > o . Keo ^ h candidate . The same brother answered the questions le ding to the second degree , Lodge was closed in duo form , aud adjourned till 20 th instant , when Bro . Turner will preside .

Messrs . Watfs and Co ., of 17 Johns > n ' s-courfc , FI > efc-- < fcreet , L m Ion E . C , vvill publish on the 1 st ot August a new pooular- weekly inagazme , entitled " The Eye : a Journal of Observations . " It , will contain articles and observations ou all the principal topics of fche day , and will be filled with information of an instructive , interesting , and entertaining character . The price will be one penny .