Consecration Of The Walthamstow Lodge, No. 2472.

ultimate success , seeing tbat he had the Chairman of the Local Board acting ns Immediate Past Master . Ho had also , as ono of the foundeis of tho Lodge , thoir representative in the County Councilof Ess < x , nnd several leading lights in the parish . Therefore , ho know thafc they would all put their

shoulders to tbe wheel , and , without any trouble , make this Lod ^ c a great success . That was his ambition , and he knew that the brethren would cordially unite with him in obtaining that result . Ho thought it . was always well for the futnre of a Lodge when the founders recommended their

sons , and also their friends , for initiation . When they started this Lodge they made up their minds thafc it should not bo a largo one , nnd directly tho membership numbered foity or fifty they would raise tho fees . He might say , for tbeinformationof the Grand Officers , that when the

Beaconsfield Lodge , which was also held at The Chequers , was good enough to recommend tbat thc petition for a warranj * for the Walthamstow Lodge should be granted , ifc was arranged that all the latter's fees should be more than theirs . At the preliminary meetings of the Walthamstow Lodge this

arrangement had been fully carried out ; and directly the brethren met , and the Lodgo obtained the number of fifty members , he should at once propose that the fees be immediately increased . He thanked all the brethren for their hearty good wishes , and they might depend upon it ho should do his best to make this Walthamstow Lodge a

success . Brother Shurmur proposed the toasfc of the Visitors , mentioning many of them by name , thanking them for their presence , and giving them a hearty welcome . Bro . Boulton , of Stratford , W . M . of the St . Clement ' s

Lodge , Leigh , who was called upon to respond first , congratulated Bro . Shnrmnr on being the firsfc Master of this very important Lodge , and he thongfc the brethren had done wisely in choosing him for Master . He greatly esteemed

and respected Bro . Shurmur ; he had always found him a good and true friend , who could be relied upon . From his general mannerism ifc was no wonder they had chosen him , and he hoped in the near future they would support him afc the election of Grand Treasurer , and that be would be

successful . Bros . J . J . Thomas , Dehane , Croploy , King , Finch , and Danlop Cunningham also replied . To the toasfc of the Treasurer and the Secretary Brother S . H . Baker P . M ., replying as Treasurer , said tho very

warm and fraternal reception given to the toasfc to his mind was gratifying and encouraging . It had been repeatedly said that night that the prospects of this Lodgo wore

brilliant , ancl the wish he believed had had a fervent existence that its career might be a successful and prosperous one . For that to be the case , every inmate of the Lodge must be heart aud soul devoted to the furtherance of those

great objects . The Master working in sympathy with his Officers , his Officers reciprocating that sympathy , must feel thafc they had the support and generous construction of every one of their actions by every member of the rank and file of fche body of the Lodge . If thafc was assured ,

the prognostications to-nig ht with regard to this Lodge , brilliant as they were , could not be equal to the sequel . They had the full confidence , without approaching the threshold of exaggeration , of men—Grand Officers who had seen suit and service in Masonic life , and men who

would not havo consented to accept thoir offices lightly , but had accepted them with deliberation , and their acceptance was a pledge of the loyalty with which they could serve this Lodge , and which wonld be afc its disposal for the future . Ho did hope that they might all feel that it

rested on each one of the brethren to look on themselves as tho champions of the honour and the future usefulness of the Lodge . Glad as they were and hopeful as they were to make this a very fact connected with tbe name of the Walthamstow Lodge , lefc them still bear in

mind the great blessing Masonry conferred when it was properly entered upon , and as far as in their power , take care that those blessings and advantages were not frivolousl y scattered about as many others were , but lefc their great aim be to take care to receive under their banner only

those whose life and character were of such a nature as to entitle them to appreciate what Masonry really was . He could assure the Worshipful Master and the brethren that he appreciated it as the highest compliment he had yet

received in his life to have been unanimously elected Treasurer of the Walthamstow Lodge . Any service it was possible for him to render to fche Lodge would bo rendered ungrud gingly and with entire pleasure .

Consecration Of The Walthamstow Lodge, No. 2472.

Bro . S . Herbert replied as Secretary , He most highly appreciated the compliment conveyed in being appointed to the onerous office of Secretary . He , however , wondered why that honour had been accorded him , as he believed the Lodge could have found a more competent member for

the position . The duties of Secretary of a Lodge were multifarious , both in the Lodge and in constantly keeping in touch with tho brethren . If thero was any " go "in the Lodge , as he fully believed there would bo , he would seo that their interests were pressed forward . With auch

excellent tutors behind him as Worshipful Master Shurmur , Past Muster Wildash , and his colleague fche Treasurer , who was competent to occupy all the offices , he had little fear of the result , and with the r assistance he would do the best he could for the Lodge .

A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Bro . Hallowes for tho admirable manner in which the banquet had beeu arranged , and for his great efforts in getting the new Lodge ready at a shorfc notice . The Tyler's toasfc closed the proceeding *" . —Walthamstow and Leyton Guardian

Prov. Grand Lodge Of Hampshire And Isle Of Wight.

PROV . GRAND LODGE OF HAMPSHIRE AND ISLE OF WIGHT .

rr'HE annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of JL Hampshire and the Isle of Wight was held at the Drill Hall , Basingstoke , on Tuesday , the 8 fch inst ., under fcho presidency of tho Provincial Grand Master ( Brother W . W . B . Beach , M . P . ) , who was supported hythe Deputy

Provincial Grand Master ( Bro . J . E . LeFeuvre , J . P . ) , and a number of Present and Past Officers and distinguished Visitors . The Lodges of the Province wero well represented by their respective Masters , accompanied by

Officers and Members in fair numbers . The usual routine business was carried through , including the adoption of the report of the audit of the Provincial Grand Treasurer ' s accounts , showing a credit balance of £ 121 5 s 7 d , and the

report of the proceedings of the Provincial Grand Lodge Committee , by which it appeared that the total membershi p of Lodges was 54 in excess of the total of the previous year . The Provincial Grand Treasurer ( Brother J . W .

Gieve , J . P . ) , was unanimously re-elected , and the Deputy Provincial Graud Master was nominated fco represent the Province on the Management Committee of the Royal

Masonic Institution for Boys . The following were appointed and invested as Provincial Grand Officers , viz .:

—Bro . Major G . H . Newcome 1971 ¦ Senior Warden H . Durrant 175 - - . Junior Warden Bev . F . Wbyley 2016 - " } Chanlains Rev . Cedrio E . Crowley 257 ¦ J una P lainB

John W . Gieve 309 - . Treasurer Dr . F . D . Miller 694 , . . Registrar Edgar Goble 309 - - . Secretary

R . W . Leea 130 - ¦ . *) a . „ G . Ward 1883 - - . J Sen . or Deacons W . M . Oatridge 487 - . ) , . n H . Lehman * ? 83 - . . j JaD 10 r Deac 0 n 8 G . W . Wyatt 2158 - . Supt . of Works Dr . E . T . Crouoh 1705 . . Director of Ceremonies W . Le Roy 319 - . . Deputy Dir . of Cera . J . G . Gornhom 151 . . *) F . S . Shaw 1373 . . . * > Assist . Dir . of COM . J . Mitchell 142 - . . ) R . Hodges 195 •. . Sword Bearer H . T . Deacon 2169 - •)„ . , ,. J . S . Wickens 2074 - - j Sfc 8 ndard Bearer ' S . Ronnd 342 - - . Organist G . F . Lancaster 903 - . Assist . Secretary J . Miles 1428 - . . Pursuivant R . W . G . Stokes 1958 . •Assist . Pursuivant J . Howarth 1776 . . - •> T . Greener 1331 . F . Lazenby 694 . . . „ . , H . C . Ashdown 394 . . }¦ St » w « d « W . F . Blake 2016 ... I E . R . Fisher 2068 - ¦ . I

J . Exe ) 1487 - - - Tyler The subsequent proceedings included a cold collation at the Town Hall , afc which the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were given , and the health of the Mayor of Basingstoke ( who was present ) was drank , with thanks for the use of the hall .