Dedication Of A Masonic Hall At Exeter.

their new owners have undergone a thorough renovation , and been converted to their requirements . While the general features remain , the rooms have been re-arranged , and in some instances thrown together , to form larger ones . A grand old moulded oak frame front , filled with pargetting , that was street back from the seet in a small court , and is believed to have been erected about the latter end of

the reign of Henry VII ., or the beginning of that of Henry VIII , has been covered over with rough cast , it being in the way of the new arrangements . A handsome modern door with Masonio emblems now gives entrance to the premises , and a wide glazed vestibule loads to the entrance hall of the house , on each side of which committeerooms , a voting-room , lavatory , and other offices fill up the ground

floor . A grand wide staircase—the old one—leads to the first floor . Against the wall of the first landing hangs a handsome presentation portrait of the late Rev . Dr . Carwithen , a great light in Devonshire Masonry in former days , and who for many years filled the office of Deputy Prov . Grand Master under the rule of tho late Earl Fortescue P . G . M . Tbe picture is nine feet by five , and gives a rather

over life-size of tho doctor . It is pronounced a striking likeness , and , as a painting , possesses considerable merit . On the first floor ia the principal Lodge room , an apartment 33 by 20 ft ., and 14 ft . high . It is fitted for comfortably seating seventy brethren , and can accommodate 150 on an emergency . It is for the use of the local lodges , and •was not intended to provide for the meetings of the Provincial Grand

Lodge . The Lodgo room door is provided with a specially designed Masonic knocker , and its walls , doors , aud windows are so constructed as to prevent all egress of sound , a powerful organ being inaudible outside the premises , which are situated in the immediate proximity of several other buildings . The ventilation of the rooms is carefully arranged , on the ayphon principle . The gas fittinga are Masonic

designs specially cast , and the gas laid down to the candlesticks , while complete provision is made for regulating and lowering the gas during the ceremonies . The grate is an Abbotsford Armstrong ventilator , and the fireplace is provided with a steel shutter for purposes known to the initiated . The brethren are seated around the room on a raised platform , with velvet padded seats . The organ

is by Walker , of London , and is fixed in a recess . It was brought from tho old Masonic Hall in Fore-street-hill , has been remodelled , had two new stops with improved bellows aud swell added , and is a very effective chamber instrument . The walls have been carefully prepared with Keene ' s cement on selenitic ground , after the patent of General Scott R . E .. and have been painted with delicate salmon

tints , on which appropriate Masonic devices have been stencilled in carmine . A rich gold cornice adorns the npper part of the walls , also a coloured Dado ornament just above the backs of the seats . The ceiling is a light blue , with the sacred emblem in the centre , surrounded by a five-pointed star , from which radiate gold stars . The carpet is a three-thread Brussels , specially designed

with Craft and Royal Arch devices , and has been woven at Kidderminster , where , it is said , the best " Brussels" carpetings are now manufactured . The chimney-piece , a handsome design , is in Corsham stone , with the motto of the Order inscribed along its front . The windows are fitted with double sashes , glazed with brilliant cut devices and border , and fitted with concealed shutters . Adjacent to

the principal Lodge room are corresponding , reception , and preparing rooms . On the second floor is a commodious store room for storing the extra furniture , fittings , and paraphernalia of the various branches of the Order , with adjoining closets for similar nse . On the third floor is a handsomely fitted-up Lodge room , corresponding in character with the larger Lodgo room , and appropriated solely for the use of

the Mark and Chivalric Degrees of the Order , all the banners and shields of the Knight ' s Templar and of the Rose Croix covering its walls . Above the third floor is an attic story , used for various minor purposes . The servants' wing of the old house has been converted into a roomy and convenient residence for the attendant in charge of the premises . At present , that office is filled by the widow of Bro .

Gregory , the late P . G . Tyler . A neat garden at tho back of the premises opens by a side door also into Gandy-street . That street , not long since , contained two curious relics of antiquity—at its St . Paul ' s-strcet end—the famous Jans Cross , and at the other the base of a granite cross that was removed from the centre of the old Exe Bridge . With the innovations of modern improvements the City Council has removed both .

A special Provincial Grand Lodge was convened on Monday , for the purpose of dedicating the premises to the purposes of Freemasonry . The members of the Lodge assembled in the afternoon in the small room of the Victoria Hall , where the Lodge was opened by R . W . Bro . the Rev . J . Huyahe M . A ., Prov . G . M . and Past G . Chap ., supported by R . W . Bro . G . W . Rogera D . Prov . G . M . pro tern , W . Bros . J . E .

Curteis S . G . W ., Dr . J . Harper J . G . W ., the P . G . Chaplain , I . Lati - mer Prov . G . Sec . pro tern , C . Godstchalk , Prov . G . J . D ., J . A . Orchard , Prov . G . D . C , F . Day Prov . G . D . C , F . Day Prov . G . R ., C Stribling , J . P . Phillips , G . Evans , J . Watson , and F . J . Pratt , Prov . G . Stewards . After the usual ceremonies the Lodge was adjourned , and the

brethren proceeded in procession in full regalia , with banners displayed , to the new Masonic Hall . Thore the Lodge was re-opened , and the building dedicated in solemn form to the uses of Freemasonry . Through the absence of R . W . Bro . L . P . Motham , from illness , the oration was given by W . Bro . W . G . Rogers , the D . Prov . G . M . pro tern . The address of the W . Bro . was an able disquisition upon the

antiquity aud present position of Freemasonry , which displayed considerable research . On the antiquity of the Order , Bro . Rogers argued with much force that the attempts recently made at giving Masonry a modern origin were futile . Masonry in former times , he urged , was cultivated with more rigid attention to its training than at

present . Brethren were then more closely tested after longer periods of probation before they were allowed to proceed in taking tho degrees . At the close of the dedication service the brethren returned in procession to the Victoria Hall , where tho Lodge was closed with the usual formula . In the evening a large party of tho brethren dined , together at the New London Hotel . —West em Morning News ,

Old Warrants.

Old Warrants .

— : o : — No . 64 . No . 168 , " Ancients ; " No . 205 at the Union of A . D . 1813 , Ho . 147 A . D . 1832 , and No . 125 from A . D . 1863 .

No . 168 . ATHOLL , GRAND MASTER . LAU . DERMOTT , D . G . M . WM . CLARKE , S . G . W . JOHN CHRISTIAN , J . G . W .

So all fobom it mat ) conemt . WE , the Grand Lodgo of tbe most Ancient and Hononrable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons ( according to the old Constitntions granted by His Royal Highness Prince EDWIN , at York , Anno Domini Nine hundred twenty and six , and in the year of

Masonry Four thonsand Nine hundred twenty and six ) in ample Form assembled , viz ., The Right Worshipful and Most Noble John , Bake and Marquis of Atholl , Marquis and Earl of Tullibardine , Earl of Strathtay and Strathardle , Viscount of Ballquider , Glenalmond and Glenlyon , Lord Murray , Belveny an-l Qask , Heritable Capt . and

Constable of the Castle and Constabulary of Kmclaven , one of the Sixteen Peers of Scotland , Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Thistlt , and in that part of Great Britain called England , GRAND MASTER OF MASONS ! The Worshipful Lau . Dermott , Esq ., Depnty Grand Master , The Worshipful William Clarke , Esq ., Senior Grand Warden , and the

Worshipful John Christian , Esq ., Junior Grand Warden ( with the Approbation and Consent of the Warranted Lodges held within the Cities and Suburbs of London and Westminster ) , Do hereby authorise and impower our Trusty and Well beloved Brethren , viz ., Mr . Thomas Schaw one of our Master Masons , Mr . Jno . Blackway his Senior

Warden , and Mr . Wm . McCarthy his Junior Warden , to Form and Hold a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons aforesaid , at the sign of the Pelican ( or elsewhere ) in the City of Bath , upon the second and last Monday of each Kalendar Month , and on all seasonable Times and . lawful Occasions . And in the said Lodge ( when duly

congregrated ) to admit aud make Free Masons , according to the most Ancient and Honourable Custom of the Royal Craft in all Ages and Nations throughout the known world . And we do hereby farther authorise and empower our aaid Trusty and Well . beloved Brethren , Messrs . Thos . Schaiv , Jno . Blackway , and

Wm . McCarthy ( with the Consent of the Members of their Lodge ) to nominate , chuse , and install their Successors , to whom they shall deliver this Warrant , and invest them with thoir Powers and Dignities as Free Masons , & c . And such Successors shall in like manner nominate , chuse , and install their Successors , & c , & c , & c . Such

installations to be upon ( or near ) every ST . JOHN ' DAY , daring the continuance of this Lodge for ever . Providing tho above-named Brethren and all their Successors always pay due Respect to this Right Worshipful Grand Lodge , otherwise this Warrant to be of no

Force nor Virtue . Given under our Hands and tho Seal of our Grand Lodge in Loudon , this Ninth day of April , iu the year of Our Lord One thousand Seven hundred seventy and one , and in the year of Masonry Five thousand seven hundred seventy and one .

WM . DICKEY , Grand Secretary . NOTE . —This Warraut is Registered' ) in the Grand Lodge , Vol . ..., > Letter E . ) [ SEAT ,. ]

ENDORSEMENTS . Loud" -, 25 th Sepfcem . 1773 . —Tho within Warrant I reod . on the twelfth day of July last by Post from Bath , aud it has remained in my Possession untill this Day the Twenty-fifth of September , One thousand seven hundred and seventy-three . Therefore , I do hereby

certify that all Admissions and Transactions , & c . within the time hero specefied shall be held good and sufficient as if they had been in Possession of said Warrant . Providing that such Admissions , & c . be conformable in every respect with the Rules and Orders of the Frateruity . By Order ,

WM . DICKEY , G . SEC . Let the within Warrant be Transferred to Brother Abraham Levi , Master , Samuel Hannifordand Simon Gompertz , Sen - and Jun - Wardens , and their Successors being first duly registered pnrsnant to the Statute , and to be holden at the Red Lion , or elsewhere , at Hythe .

Subject always and nevertheless to the within Proviso and condition , and of due respect to and performance of all and every the Rules and Regulations of the Grand Lodge by whom tbe within and these presents are granted .

THOS . HARPER , D . G . M . Entered in the Books of the Grand Lodge G . pa . 194 . ROB - LESLIE , G . Sec . The present title , No ., & o . are , Tho " Prince Edwin ' s Lodge , " No . 125 , Hythe , Kent .

The foregoing transcript has been carefully made by W . Bro . tho Eev . T . Robinson , M . A ., P . Prov . S . G . W . of Kent , & c , & c , the portion in italics being written on the original document , aud the two endorsements being copied verbatim et literatim . The Warrant is curioas and valuable on account of the unusual qt . antity of writing , both on the obverse and reverse ( if I may so say ) of the Charter . JOHN CONSTASUB ,