Consecration.

The oration over , the Brethren sang the anthem , " Behold , how good and joyful , " Bro . Cox being at the organ , after which came the Dedication prayer , and the Invocation , and various other ceremonies of an interesting character , including the reading of extracts from the Holy "Writ . Then corn , the symbol of plenty , was scattered ; wine , the symbol of joy , and

oil , the symbol of peace , were poured ; and salt was sprinkled , the symbol of fidelity and friendship . After the anthem , " 0 how amiable , " the Chaplain went with the censer three times round the Lodge , the Lodge was constituted , and the anthem , " The spacious firmament-on high , " was sung . Then came the patriarchal benediction , and the consecration was over .

Bro . T . E . Arter P . S . G . W . then installed Bro . Charles P . Perry as Worshipful Master , and the usual investments and appointments took place . Jewels were presented to the Consecrating Officers , to the founders of the Lodge , and to Bro . Arter , and the Lodge being duly closed , the company adjourned to the banquet room , Worshipful Master C . P . Perry in the chair .

While responding to a toast , the Prov . G . Master Bro . A . F . Godson said that proposals for new Lodges were by him received with extreme care , owing to occasional uncertainty regarding their future . In the case of the Arter Lodge , however , he had no doubt of its brilliant prospects . It was in excellent hands and would , in his judgment , have a great career .

A number of Brethren contributed songs and instrumental pieces during the evening , which was passed in good fellowship , and with the usual customs belonging to Masonry . — " Birmingham Gazette . "

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

"A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

ANOTHEE worthy Brother , whose friendship we have enjoyed since the earliest days of the FREEMASON ' CHEONICLE , has passed away in the person of Bro . T . Bull Past Master of the Prudent Brethren Lodge , No . 145 and P . Z . of the Chapter attached to it . Our earliest recollection of Bro . Bull was a mistake we made in addressing him as Bro . " John " Bull ,

upon which he replied he was no John Bull , Tom was his name ; but those who heard the correction agreed the mistake was most excusable , for a better illustration of the true John Bull of England it would be difficult to find . That occurred upwards

of twenty years ago , and since then we have had many opportunities of judging of Bro . Bull ' s character , only to feel greater regard for him , and further appreciate the fine qualities of the man who , we believe , was universally admired by every Brother who knew him . His kindliness of heart and readiness at

all times to lend a helping hand to those in misfortune won for him the respect and love of many less fortunately placed in this world than himself , but he was one who almost resented any reference to the good actions he was often able to perform . His death took place on the 12 th inst ., at his residence in Great

Chapel Street , Westminster , after an illness of about six months duration . Our worthy Brother was as well known and as generally respected in Westminster as he was among the members of the Craft , a fact that was fully demonstrated by the respect shown on the occasion of his funeral , which took place

on the 17 th inst . A funeral service was held at St . Margaret ' s , Westminster , and was attended by a large number of Bro . Bull ' s fellow parishoners and members of the Masonic Order , the latter including several members of the Prudent Brethren and the Abbey Lodges , of the latter of which Bro . Bull was one of the

founders , in 1884 , occupying the Office of Director of Ceremonies therein until the time of his death . The W . M . of No . 145 attended , together with Bro . D . Haslett P . M . Sec , and many other members ; while the Abbey Lodge was represented by Bro . J . H . Montague W . M ., C . C . Piper P . M ., J . Gibson P . M . Treas .,

H . E . Poole P . M . Sec , G . White S . W . W . M .-elect , Frank Todman J . W ., J . E . Smith I . P . M . ( Vestry Clerk ) , E . E . H . Goffin P . M ., W . Borwick P . M ., A . T . Jeffery , John Kent , H . O . Hamborg , J . Squires , S . W . Schmidt , T . Fleury , C . Sweeting , W . Balchin , W . Pain , J . Hamblin , T . W . Davies , W .

Weeden , W . Bex , W . Hill , G . Everett , J . A . Yapp and John E . Shand . From other Lodges there were Bros . Swingler , G . P . W . Terry , F . A . Pratten , W . Cleghorn , T . Shepperd , T . E . White , and S . Causley . After the service the cortege moved to Norwood Cemetery , where our deceased Brother was laid to rest , the

members of the Brotherhood each placing a sprig of acacia in the grave . The wreaths were very choice and numerous , and included gifts from the Prudent Brethren Lodge , No . 145 ; the Abbey Lodge , No . 2030 ; the Abbey Lodge of Instruction ; the staff of Westminster Town Hall ; the Prudent Brethren

Chapter ; Mr . and Mrs . Nicholls ; the Police of the A Division ; Mr . and Mrs : Fleury ; Mr . and Mrs . Schmidt , and others , in all forty-nine in number . The funeral was conducted personally by that old well-known firm of funeral furnishers Bro . Thomas Cocks ( No . 2030 ) and Son , of Westminster . The greatest

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

solemnity was observed , and general sympathy with the wife and family was expressed . In this we desire specially to participate , feeling that in Bro . Bull we have lost one of the best friends it has been our fortune to secure during the term we have been associated ^ wifcb . tha publication of this paper .

THE death of Bro . J . H . Sillitoe , which took place at his residence , Birkdale , on Tuesday of last week , removes one of the most prominent figures in East Lancashire Freemasonry , although the fact that our Brother was a Past Grand Standard Bearer of England is proof that his record was not a mere local

one . He took great interest in all matters relating to the Craft , his exceptional skill as an Installing Master often bringing him into request at the annual meetings of Lodges . He was a Past Grand Warden of his Province , and Chairman of the General Committee of the East Lancashire Systematic Masonic

Educational and Benevolent Institution , a charity fund in which he displayed especial interest , but not to the exclusion of the central Institutions , of all of which he was a supporter , having on several occasions given them the benefit of his services as a Steward . The remains were interred on Saturday last at the

Southport Cemetery . Over fifty members of the Craft had assembled at St . Luke ' s Church , where the initial service took place , the gathering being a striking testimony to the high respect in which the deceased Brother had been held . Prominent among the number were Bros . James Newton P . M .

Provincial Grand . Secretary , representing tbe Provincial Grand Master of East Lancashire ( Colonel Le Gendre N . Starkie ) , who was unavoidably absent through illness ; C . D . Cheetham Prov . G . J . W . Chairman of the Charity Committee , T . J . Hooper P . P . G . Treas . Vice-Chairman ; E . G . Harwdod , Arthur H .

Jefferis , Abm . Clegg , James Kershaw P . P . G . Wardens ; John Wrigley Prov . G . Treas ., J . E . Lees P . P . G . Treasurer , Councillor J . J . Lambert P . P . G . Eeg . ( W . L . ) , Thomas L . Buckley , Dr . Thomas D . Foreman , J . H . Calvert , William Jaffrey , C . E . Schuster , Nathaniel Nicholson , J . G . Goulburn , J . T . Newbold ,

John Booth , John Partington P . P . G . Deacons ; James Beardmore , and Eli Winterbottom Prov . G . D . Cs ., William Henry Peak , James W . Abbott , and J . Cliffe P . P . G . D . Cs ., Henry Walmsley P . G . A . D . C ., C . E . Godby P . G . S ., W . Thornley P . P . G . S ., E . H . Flower P . G . T ., William Brookes P . M . 1170 Chairman of the Freemasons' Club , Samuel Moore P . M . 92 ,

E . L . McMillan P . M . 678 , G . W . Belshaw W . M . 1219 ,

James Eobinson P . M . 1219 , and J . Grimshaw P . M . 2464 . The Southport contingent included Bros . John Hatch P . P . G . W ., F . Adams P . P . G . D ., C . WatsonP . P . G . D ., E . SharrockP . P . G . A . D . O , John Stewart P . P . G . S . B ., Councillor E . Bradshaw P . M . 613 , T . E . Williams P . M . 2325 , besides numerous relatives and friends who were not Masons . The coffin , which was of

polished oak , with brass mountings , bore this inscription : — " James Hill Sillitoe , born 13 th October 1834 , died 16 th March 1897 . " It was literally covered with wreaths , and was placed at the foot of the chancel steps , the organist playing , " O rest in the Lord " ( Mendelssohn ) as the procession entered the church . The choir and congregation sang the psalm in the Burial Service , which was conducted by Bro . the Eev . W . H . Marsden P . P . G . C .

assisted by the Eev . J . L . Walton ( curate ) . The hymn " On the Eesurrection morning " was sung , and as the cortege left for the cemetery , the " Dead March" in Saul was played . Many of the wreaths ( of which there were over thirty ) were of Masonic design , and all were very beautiful . That forwarded from the Freemasons' Hall , Manchester , was in the form of a square and compass , to which was attached a card containing the following words , viz . : —

" With sympathy and regret from the Committee and Members of the Manchester Freemasons' Club , 20 th March 1897 . " Among other donors were the widow and daughter , employes of Messrs . Sillitoe and Seares ( Manchester ) , employes of Messrs . Sillitoe and Seares ( waste department ) , Messrs . Broadhurst , Sons and Co . ( Manchester ) , Bro . C D . Cheetham ,

the Provincial Grand Lodge and Chapter of East Lancashire , the East Lancashire Charities , the Prince of Wales Lodge ( Bury ) , and the Humphrey Chetham Lodge and Chapter . Our late Bro . Sillitoe , who was connected with more than one Lodge , did not confine himself simply to Craft Masonry , although he had not the ambition to become a member of every superior

degree . So far as the Holy Eoyal Arch was concerned , he was a member of Grand Chapter , and also of Provincial Grand Chapter , claiming high distinctive titles in each . He was a Mark Mason , but never took office in that degree , and also a member of the County Palatine Chapter Eose Croix . He was furthermore one of the founders of the Humphrey Chetham

Chapter Eose Croix , and it is only recently that he gave his consent to act as Preceptor to the newly contemplated Truth Instruction Chapter , as announced in our pages . His work was of a universal kind , and his efforts were generally successful ; he took more than an ordiuary interest in the various charities , and with a purpose so engrossing that he has left a name which will be justly honoured by all the Brethren who knew him .