Provincial Grand Lodge Of Berks And Bucks.

with the Queen ' s Jubilee , and he felt sure that her Majesty valued such an expression of good feeling on their part very highly indeed . ( Applause . ) Bro . TILTON . in returning thanl < s , said it gave him very great pleasure to attend this Provincial Grand Lodge , held in the Royal borough of Windsor . As the Deputy Provincial Grand Master had told them , there were in the United States no less than 48 Grand Lodges , each exercising

separate and independent jurisdiction , and comprising more than 600 , 000 Freemasons . The New York Grand Lodge had under its supervision as many as 725 lodges , with a membership of more than 75 , 000 . The New York Grand Lodge was one of the largest , and on the 7 th June it celebrated its 112 th anniversary . It was divided into 29 District Grand Lodges , and in his district he had the honour of representing 34 lodges with a

membership of 4000 . During the last 25 years Freemasonry had increased in membership at an almost equal rate with Freemasonry in England since the period that the Prince of YVales had been Grand Master . He was at Brig hton last year , and heard the Prince of Wales remark upon the great increase of Freemasonry during the reign of his mother , and he ( Bro . Tilton ) was p leased to say that in America Freemasonry had increased almost to the same extent , and that they were keeping pace with England . ( Applause . )

He was p leased to state also that there had lately been founded in London an Ang lo-American Lodge under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Eng land , where they could receive American brethren who were visiting this country , and where they would also be pleased to see any of the Berks and Bucks Freemasons who might happen to be in London . ( Applause . ) He felt great pleasure in offering to this Provincial Grand Lodge the " Hearty good wishes" of the Provincial Grand Lodge of the State of New York . ( Applause . )

The next toast proposed by the DEPUTY GRAND MASTER was that of " The Masonic Charities , " to which Bro . BINCKES , Secretary to the Royal Masonic Boys' School , and Bro . TERRY , Secretary to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , eloquently responded . " The Health of the Provincial Grand Wardens and the other

Newly-Appointed Provincial Grand Officers " was then proposed by the DEPUTY PROV . GRAND MASTER , who associated with the toast the names of the S . G . W ., Bro . Tomkins , Mayor of Abingdon , and the Prov . Grand Organist , Bro . W . F . Summers , of Windsor , who severally returned thanks .

The DEPUTY PROV . GRAND MASTER then proposed "The Health of the Worshipful Masters and Officers of the Etonian and Windsor Castle Lodges , " for whom Bro . STOLLERY returned thanks .

The DEPUTY PROV . GRAND MASTER next proposed " The Health of the Prov . Grand Treasurer and the Prov . Grand Secretary , " referring to each in eulogistic terms . He remarked that no one knew better than he did how much the success attending the Provincial Grand Lodge depended upon the exertions of the Prov . Grand Secretary , and they would all agree

with him in saying that they owed a deep debt of gratitude to Bro . Bradley for the unwearied zeal and indomitable energy which he always showed in carrying out the duties of his office . ( Applause . ) He concluded by announcing that the next Provincial Grand Lodge would be held at High Wycombe . ( Applause . )

The PROV . GRAND SECRETARY , in reply , said they must all regret the absence of the Prov . Grand Treasurer , Bro . Stephens , who was with them in Prov . Grand Lodge , but severe domestic affliction prevented him joining them at the banquet . Bro . Bradley observed that during the ten years he had held the office of Prov . Grand Secretary he had done his best to promote the interests of Masonry , and he had always received the greatest

kindness and consideration from the brethren of that province . It was a source of great pleasure to receive the honour conferred upon him at the Grand Lodge held in the Albert Hall a fortnight ago , and he appeared in the plumes of his new Grand Lodge office on this occasion through the kindness of the officers and brethren of the three Reading lodges , who had generously presented him with the handsome regalia . ( A pplause . ) It was a source of great gratification to him to have received that splendid present ,

but one thing which had pleased him more than that handsome gift was the spontaneous and hearty congratulations from brethren from every lodge in the province . ( Applause . ) Bro . Bradley went on to refer to various matters of interest connected with this province , and particularly to the support which it had given to the Masonic Charities , as evidenced by the fact that on this occasion no less than seven brethren had been presented with the Prov . Charity jewel for having served Stewardships to , at least , two of those Charities . ( Applause . )

"The Health of the Prov . Grand Stewards" was then drunk , and the Tyler ' s toast brought the list to a close . The musical arrangements were ably carried out by Bro . W . F . Summers , Prov . G . Org ., assisted by Messrs . G . May , W . Clinch , and W . B . Kempton , of St . George ' s Chapel .

Consecration Of The Folkestone Lodge Of Mark Master Masons, No. 380.

CONSECRATION OF THE FOLKESTONE LODGE OF MARK MASTER MASONS , No . 380 .

2- >„ i u l ° & e was consecfated at the Masonic Hall , Folkestone , on Thursday , the bv R ' I Bro > the Rev - T - Rob ; nson , M . A ., Prov . G . Master of Kent , assisted Mati ^ o £ ™ , ^ y ™ Cummings , M . A ., D . P . G . M ., P . G . Chap . ; C . F . Ma her , P . G . W ; Rev . J . P . Britton , M . A ., P . G . Chap . ; J . G . Podevin , P . D . P . G . M ., sh " i , n ; ^ d Horatl ° Ward . P . G . D . There were also present Bros . T . E . Wilt . of Wt V - 5 , 0 - ; HoIbein < p-G- ° -i Franco ! s Pla " . P . G . D . E . Hine , P . G . Supt . vvKs . ; and many others .

< % saluted ' ° ' ' ' ' ng entered and ° P ened the lodge . was with his Deputy MarJiw De P , 3 Prov ' - then assumed the chair , and advanced to the Degree of StR . e T" , e following brethren j Bros . A . Petts , I . P . M . 558 ; W . Dunk , S . W . Gou ' ldt l ? l A ^ , d Treas " 558 ; S . Petts , 558 ; T . G . Morrison , 558 ; R . B ° W ' ® i - . - Taylor , 8 ; T . B . Hammond , 558 ; W . Griffin , I . G . 558 ; G . . ar 55 ti

Clement T ^ ° miey , a ; . Barton , 558 ; J . G . Cheyney , 558 ; H alS 0 m aX | H * ° rff- . 5581 and W . Prebble , 558 . The following brethren wer Waite ofifi tedas J ° lning members : Bros . L . Banks , 266 ; W . Worsell , 266 ; H ' ^ . 206 ; G . Peden , 266 ; and J . Lathey , 266 . p rov ( i r u ° " G ^ Ml then consecrated the lodge , the oration being delivered by the ' P- Br ° the Rev . JP . BrittonMA

~ , . - . , .. officers ^" n - ' Bro-Kla "> was in due course installed as W . M , , and appointed his W - Pranri- c « Br ° s ' J- Kennett ' S-W . i A . Holbein , j . W . ; A . Crance , M . O . 5 £ « £ * S % i ; ° « R Jra"cis > J' ° ' J- N" Ro * ers ' **¦ ° f Mks -i S . Joseph T yler . ' Petts ' " 5 H - Clements , Org . ; G . L . Hart , I . G . ; and Geo . Butcher !

Consecration Of The Folkestone Lodge Of Mark Master Masons, No. 380.

At the conclusion of the ceremonies the W . M . proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the Consecrating Officers , and proposed that the Prov . G . M ., the Uep . Prov . G . M ., the Prov . G . Sec , and Bro . Matier , who had so kindly acted in the dual capacity of Deacon and Dir . of Cers ., should be asked to accept honorary membership of the lodge . This was carried with acclamation .

The lodge having been closed , after hearty congratulations to the W . M ., the brethren sat down to a recherche repast in the adjoining banqueting-room , where the usual loyal and Masonic toasts received due honours , and a most enjoyable finish was put to the day ' s proceedings . Folkestone may be proud of her new Masonic Hall and of the last in the roll of lodges added to the Province of Kent .

Consecration Of The Cœur De Lion Chapter, Rose Croix, No. 105.

CONSECRATION OF THE C ? UR DE LION CHAPTER , ROSE CROIX , No . 105 .

The consecration of a new chapter ot Sovereign Princes Rose Croix , 18 , in the Ancient and Accepted Rite , took place in the Masonic Hail , 8 A , Red Lionsquare , on Wednesday , the 22 nd ult . The founders , who hail principally from Kent , and meet in London for general convenience , having assembled , Bro . Gen . Clerk , Grand Treasurer General , as M . P . S . G . C , who was supported by Bros . J . M . P . Montagu , Grand Chancellor ; Hugh D . Sandeman , Grand Secretary General ; Gen . J . S . Brownrigg , Grand

Prior ; Lieut .-Col . H . S . Somervi lie Burney , 33 ° D . of C ; and Frank Ricuaidson , 33 ° , A . D . C , proceeded to open a Supreme Council Chapter , Rose Croix , and this having been done in accordance with ancient usage , the ballot was taken lor the fourteen candidates enumerated in the summons , and the following who were present , introduced and perfected , namely , Bros . Sidney Clarke , Fred Mitchell , Eugene Sweny , Thomas Gates , Arthur H . Bateman , George R . Cobham , Col . Joseph Hartley , J . Call Weddell , M . D ., C . V . Ootterell , and W . G . Weiss , the ceremony being very ably rendered by Bro . Hugh D . Saudeman , G . Sec-Gen .

Bro . Sandeman then proceeded to the task of consecrating the chapter , and the warrant of _ constitution by the Supreme Council having been read , the ceremony was carried successfully to an end , and Bro . the Rev . Hayman Cummings , M . W . S . designate , was duly installed M . W . S ,, and appointed among his officers Bros . Lieut .-Col . Haldane , Prelate ; Fred . Wood , 1 st General ; and Wm . Lake , 2 nd General .

A Committee was chosen to frame a code of by-laws ; and votes of thankswith the accompanying compliment of honorary membership—were unanimously passed to Bros . General Clerk , Hugh D . Sandeman , and the other members and officers of the Supreme Council who had assisted him , and this having been acknowledged , the chapter was closed , and the brethren adjourned to banquet at the Holborn Restaurant , and afterwards paid due honour to the usual toast list .

The following is a list of the founders , namely , Bros , the Rev . H . Cummino-s , 18 ° M . W . S . ; Frederick Wood , 18 ° ; W . Lake , 18 ° ; Lieut .-Col . G . Haldane , 32 ; C . F . Matier , 32 ; and W . G . Lemon , 30 ° . ¦ The following were present , as visitors , namely , Bros . Alfred Williams , R . Berridge , C . H . Driver , H . Ward , E . M . Lott , Mus . Doc , and M . Russell .

The chapter has started under most favourable auspices , no less than fourteen candidates for perfection being on the agenda paper for the first meeting , and others were proposed . Bro . Cummings' well-known ability and zeal will doubtless ensure the active support of his officers , and we shall expect to see this chapter taking a leading position in Rose Croix Masonry . During its formation it has had the advantage of the services of Bro . C . F . Matier , as Secretary pro tem ., and his valuable help was specially recognised , both in the lodge and at the banquet table .

Grand Lodge Of New York.

GRAND LODGE OF NEW YORK .

The annual meetings of the Grand Lodge of New York for 1887 are now numbered with the past ; but they will long be remembered for their enthusiasm and genuine Masonic feeling . M . W . Bro . Frank R . Lawrence was again re-elected as Grand Master , and no wonder , for he is the grandest Master that Grand Lodge has ever had . * His Address on June 7 th to the brethren was followed by such an outburst of applause that must have

startled some of the old members , who had been long used to the ordinary routine of Grand Lodge life , though a foretaste ot what was in store was considerately given on the entrance of M . W . Bro . Lawrence and his staff of officials and officers . The reception was almost at "fever heat , " and no wonder , for the Grand Master , through his unwearied exertions and indomitable perseverance , was able to announce that the debt on the Masonic

Temple , which amounted to £ 100 , 000 a year ago , was now reduced to under £ 40 , 000 . In other words , the bonds have been cancelled to the extent of some 300 , 000 dollars in 12 months ! There is therefore every prospect of the crushing debt , that has so long burdened the Craft in New York , being got rid of entirely during the Grand Mastership of Bro . Lawrence , and then the magnificent property will belong to the Grand Lodge without encumberances of any kind whatsoever .

Should not the Grand Master be able to raise all the £ 40 , 000 this yearfor it is a big sum—I should suggest that he obtain loans ol 100 dollars or more from brethren free of interest , and then from the income of the Grand Lodge the indebtedness will soon be cleared off , as it was with the Freemasons' Hall , London , in 1780-90 . A medal to all such friends who " come in at the death " might well be given , and then the lodges will have their

rents reduced , the income of the Grand Lodge will be unweighted , and the Grand Temple will soon be free from debt . The Grand Master deserves the encouragement he is receiving for grappling with the debt so manfully , instead of letting it " slide , " as so many have done before him , and he has rendered his term of office ever memorable by his truly Masonic exertions . His Address covers some 40 pages , and reads exceedingly well . The

references to the " roll of the departed" were very touching , especially to our lamented friend and Bro . Albert G . Goodall , Grand Representative Irom Grand Lodge of England at New York , who died on February 19 th , 1887 . No one ever loved the Fraternity more than Bro . Goodall , and of the many Grand Representatives , appointed by our Royal Grand Master , no one ever valued the compliment more than our New York Representative .

The G . M . commended the efficient management ot the splendid library which forms one ot the most valued possessions ot the Grand Lodge , and which has been considerably extended during the past year . His words of commendation included the following : — " The excellence with which its contents are arranged , and the facility with which they are placed at the disposal of

readers , abundantly attest the capacity of the Grand Librarian , R , VV . Herman G . Carter , whose zeal in the service of the Craft cannot be too highly commended . " This encomium was well deserved , for Bro . Carter is a model Masonic Librarian . The R . W . Bro . C . T . McClenachan has been appointed the sole Com-