Consecrations.

CONSECRATIONS .

* ASHETON-EGERTON LODGE . nnHE consecration of this Lodge , No . 2703 , will take place

JL at the Bleeding Wolf Hotel , Hale , near Altrincham , on Saturday afternoon , 25 th inst . The founders of the Lodge are : The Hon . Tatton Egerton , M . P ., P . G . W . of England , Richard Newhouse P . G . S . B . Eng . Prov . G . Sec ,

Frederick Broadsmith P . P . S . G . W . W . M .-designate , J . Ferguson P . G . A . S . S . W .-designate , H . H . Main waring P . P . G . Std . J . W .-designate , Dr . C . C . Atkinson P . P . G . C . Chaplain , John Hawker P . P . G . Std . Treasurer , J . S . Derbyshire Secretary , A . W . Boucher S . D ., Fred W . E . Mehlhaus J . D .,

Thomas Stephens I . G ., Thomas Smallwood Steward , Dr . E . J . Sidebotham P . P . G . Deacon , Wm . Campbell P . P . G . A . D . C , Hy . Walmsley P . P . G . A . D . C , Fred Johnson P . M ., Coningsby Disraeli , M . P ., John T . C . Blackie , and John W . Norcliffe . The consecration ceremony will be performed by Earl

Egerton of Tatton Provincial Grand Master , assisted by his Honour Judge Sir Horatio Lloyd D . P . G . M ., Sir John Brunner Prov . S . G . W ., Lilley Ellis Prov . J . G . W ., Revs . C R . Nunn and J . E . Evans Prov . G . Chaplains , Richard Newhouse Prov . G . Sec , Colonel Dean P . P . S . G . W ., John

Armstrong P . P . J . G . W ., and H . Gordon Small Prov . G . D . C . The rather gory name attached to the hotel where the new Lodge will have its head-quarters is rather belied by the appearance of the edifice . It is , as our auctioneering friends would say , well and substantially built , and the Lodge room

is a small but cosy one . Tradition hath it that it was on the site of the hotel that the last wolf in England was killed . The sign attached to the old house showed a wolf with a cut in its throat through which the blood was streaming . The

old inn was , fifty or sixty years ago , a favourite resort of Manchester people . The old order , however , has given place to the new . What was even twenty years ago a rural district is now a collection of numerous handsome villa

residences , and Peel Causeway is known as a populous place " within the meaning of the Act . " By-the-way , we observe that Bro . William Harris P . P . G . D . C , of this city , has turned out the circular , which is of a very ornate character , from his printing office in

Cannon Street . Bro . Harris carried out a similar . office for the Provincial Grand Lodge of . East Lancashire last week . The menu was a chaste and artistic production , and well

merited the lavish admiration bestowed upon it . It was said of a celebrated painter that he mixed his colours with his brains . Bro . Harris performs a similar office with paper and type . — ' - ' Manchester Herald . "

Gator Chapter.

GATOR CHAPTER .

ON Friday , 3 rd inst ., a new Chapter was consecrated a * the Holborn Restaurant . It is attached to the Cator Lodge , No . 2266 , which meets at the Public Hall , Beckenham , and is named after Bro . Albemarle Cator . Although only

eleven years old this Lodge has been very successful , but its objects were not considered ro be complete without a Chapter being connected with it . Several of its members , therefore , petioned for a Warrant , and Grand Chapter granted the prayer .

The Consecrating Officers were : Comps . Frank Richardson , Henry Garrod , Thomas Fenn , P . A . Nairne , and J . H . Matthews . After the consecration the following received collars of office : Comps . John Christian Osterstock P . Z . M . E . Z ., J . J . White H ., W . J . Hewett P . Z . J ., R . C .

Davis P . Z . Scribe E ., L . V . D . Anley P . Z . Treasurer , V . T . Murchie P . Z . Scribe N ., Dr . F . A . Barton P . S ., J . W . Cumberland 1 st Asst . Soj ., J . H . Roscoe 2 nd Asst . Soj ., Richard Turle D . C , Paul Joskey and F . FI . de M . Mcintosh Stewards , and R . B . Whiteman Janitor . The Consecrating Officers were elected honorary members of the Chapter .

During the evening a touching incident occurred , says the " City Press . " Mrs . Osterstock , who is at Southport for the benefit of her health , sent a telegram , conveying her best wishes to the Cator Chapter and its M . E . Z .

Comp . Osterstock , in reply to the toast of the M . E . Z ., said that hour was a very proud one to him . The Consecrating Officer had alluded to his services to Freemasonry , and he only wished he could have done more . Seventeen

years ago he was initiated in the Lewis Lodge , and there was now present Bro . Powell , who not only initiated , passed , and raised him in the Craft , but also exalted him in the Royal Arch . He , on his initiation night said with some

Gator Chapter.

trepidation that it was not his ambition to expect to add one ray of light to the glorious brilliancy of Masonry , but he hoped that the day would never dawn on which he would disgrace it . He knew he had not added one ray of brilliancy

or glory to it , but after the reception he had had that evening he felt confident it was thought he had done nothing to disgrace it . He expressed his best wishes for the new Chapter , and hoped that only true Masons would be admitted within its door . The music of the evening was under the direction of Comp . Herbert Schartau .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

—; o : — BERKS AND OXON . VISCOUNT VALENTIA , M . P ., Grand Master of this Mark Province , has notified his intention of holding the annual Provincial Grand Lodee at Oxford on Mondav .

the 4 th of December , when the usual appointment of Officers for the coming year will be made , and other business connected with the Province transacted .

Staffordshire.

STAFFORDSHIRE .

nnHIS Provincial Grand Lodge was held at Hanley , on JL Wednesday , 1 st inst ., under the presidency of Bro . J . F . Pepper Deputy Prov . G . M . M ., who officiated for Bro . G . S . Tudor Prov . G . M . M ., who was absent through illness . The following Brethren were appointed and invested as the Provincial Officers for the year :

Bro . E . B . Devereux - Senior Warden V . C . L . Crump - Junior Warden J . Carver .... - Master Overseer J . H . Cooksey - - - Senior Overseer A . Dewsbury .... Junior Overseer 0 . A . Newnham .... Treasurer

Lieut .-Col . G . VV . Walker ... Secretary J . J . Smith -- - - - Registrar T . H . Bearne ... . Senior Deacon C . J . Morris - , - - - - Junior Deacon E . J . Trevett - Sword Bearer Major A . Hebcr Percy •- - - Standard Bearer S . LeGse ..... Inner Guard .

After the business was concluded the Brethren adjourned to the ante-room , where an excellent banquet had been provided by Bro . John Munro . Bro . J . F . Pepper occupied the chair , and proposed the health of the Queen , the Prince of Wales Grand Master , and other Mark toasts , which were cordially received . The musical arrangements were in the hands of Bro . C F . Baker ; and gave entire satisfaction .

The Prince of Wales has held the position of Grand Master of the Craft for twenty-five years . His grand-uncle , the late Duke of Sussex , exceeded this term by five years , and the second Earl of Zetland by one year , to which record should be added his three years service as Provincial Grand

Master . From such a record it does not seem easy to deduce that Freemasonry is prejudicial to long life , health , or strength . Nominations for a new Grand Treasurer in the Mark Degree and in the Craft will be notified immediately after the Grand Master has heen nominated . The only

candidate yet in the field appears to be Mr . Harry Manfield , of Northampton , who did not succeed in obtaining the office of Grand Treasurer to the Craft Masons in the present year , when his opponent was Mr . Bevan . The latter created a record by holding three Treasurerships in one year , the Craft , the Royal Arch , and the Mark . — " Western Morning News . "

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

"A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

THE death occurred on Sunday night , 5 th inst ., at his residence , Oulton Broad , of Bro . James Tennant , who was sixty-five years of age , and until a few months ago had been manager to Messrs . Everett and Son , corn merchants , which position he held over a quarter of a century . For some

time he had been in failing health , and his death was not altogether unexpected , deeply as it is deplored . The deceased was a Freemason , and a member of the Independent Order of Oddfellows , M . U ., and was generally held in high esteem and respect .