Provincial Grand Lodge Of Surrey.

Bros O'Connell and Kilvington , whom he saw present . Ritual was not ? he only thing , however , for to be a successful Master a brother should command Charity in the widest sense . Surrey in the past had done well for the three great Charities , and also for the Mark Benevolent Fund . >• The Masonic Charities " was given , and responded to by Bros . J AMES T ERRY , Sec . R . M . B . I ., and J . M . MCLEOD , Sec . R . M . I . B ., after v hich the Ty ler's toast concluded a very successful meeting .

Consecration Of The Horistic Lodge, No. 2822.

CONSECRATION OF THE HORISTIC LODGE , No . 2822 .

The ceremony of consecrating the above lodge was held on Friday , the 17 th ult ., at Freemasons' Hall . The Consecrating Officers were Bros . E . Letchworth , G . Sec . ; Daniel Mayer , P . G . D . ; D'Arcy Power , J . G . D . ; Canon Brownrigg , P . G . Chap . ; Towne , F . Ernest Pocock , P . D . G . D . C . ; and Sadler , G . Tyler , Amongst the visiting brethren

were—Bros . F . Gordon Brown P . M . i , P . A . G . D . C ; George Corbie , P . S . G . W . Essex ; Dr . Kiallmark , T . M . Wood , W . M . designate ; Dr . Robert Bryant , S . W . designate ; Henry Hi-Is , J . W . designate ; W . T . Thompson , Treasurer designate ; Fredk . A . Cox Secretary designate ; A . P . Lye , l . P . M . designate ; J . W . Key , Edwin Burgess T . A . Key , J . E . Clark , R . V . B . Best , Frederic Habbijam , G . H . Menhinick , and the founders . " "

The ceremony was most ably and reverently performed by _ the G . Secretary , whilst the G . Chaplain delivered an excellent oration , which was much appreciated by the founders . After the ceremony of consecration , the installation of Bro . Thomas Megam Wood as first W . M . was proceeded with , and he appointed and invested his officers , after which the company repaired to a banquet in the Freemasons' Tavern .

The usual toasts , admirably given by the W . M ., were received with the customary honours . The speeches of the G . Officers and visitors testified in a marked degree the hearty wishes and welcome to be accorded to this , the latest of the additions to the roll of the G . Lodge of England . The musical arrangements were in the capable hands of Bro . W . H . Pocklington .

Consecration Of The Grove Park Kent Lodge, No. 2824.

CONSECRATION OF THE GROVE PARK KENT LODGE , No . 2824 .

The consecration of the above lodge took place at Freemasons Hall on Monday , the 30 th ult . In the unavoidable absence of the Grand Secretary , the ceremony of consecration was ably performed by Bro . P . Richardson , P . G . D ., acting G . D . C , assisted by Bros . Daniel Mayer , S . G . D ., as S . W . ; C Belton , P . G . D ., as J . W . ; Rev . Canon Brownrigg , P . G . C , as Chap . ; Fitzroy Tower , Dep . G . D . C , as D . of C . j and J . D . Langton , P . D . G . D . C , as I . G .

The founders of the new lodge are Bros . Edwd . Le May , P . M ., W . M designate ; C R . Valentine , S . W . designate ; C B . C Hancock , J . W designate ; Edwd . Ball , P . M . ; F . H . Bowater , W . H . Le May , W Watson , E . A . Foster , C Collard , P . M . ; J . Barnicott , W . Olliver , F . W Bowater , and VV . O . Kennett , P . J . G . W . Kent .

Among the visitors were—Bros . E . Jevers , P . M . 1678 ; H . VV . Schartau , l . P . M . 1291 , P . M . 1261 , P . P . G . O . Middx . ; J . T . Heath , P . M . 1196 ; R . W . James , P . M . 1924 ; H . Hiscott , S . W . 1314 ; Prof . F . W . Driver , M . A ., P .. M . 45 ; E . Ball , l . P . M . 167 S ; S . T . Baker , l . P . M . 1892 ; T . W . Shaw , P . IU . G . Kent ; W . Fell , 1706 ; R . J . Clinckett , P . M . 196 and 2253 , P . D . S . G . W . Barbadoes ; J . M . McLeod , P . G . S . U ., Secretary R . M . I . B . ; F . L . Palmer , W . M . 2054 ; G . Harlow , P . M . 1613 ; Hy . Sadler , G .

Tyler ; A . G . Hamilton Dicker-Albion , St . John ' s , New Brunswick , P . G . Chap . ; H . W . Lawrie , 90 ; ' G . Stubbs , 771 ; C . Leach , 1613 ; John Alvey , 1678 ; G . Procter , W . M . 1531 ; J . R . Creasey , W . M . elect 2533 ; 11 . M . Kingsland , P . M . 1854 ; F . Tebbutt , 2098 ; J . J . liell , 2514 ; P . W . Straus , P . M . 905 ; J . F . Brown , 1701 ; H . Willsmery , 1507 ; C . A . Hooper , P . M . 1613 ; C . Sheath , W . M . 2530 ; E . F . Debenham , P . M . 28 ; F . W . Hancock , P . M . 54 8 , W . M . 2652 ; J . Mayard , W . M . 1692 ; F . P . Matthew , 5 6 9 ; J . R . Hosker , J . W . 2528 ; H . Cole , S . W . 749 ; and others .

The consecration ceremony was performed by Bro . Frank Richardson in an able manner , who afterwards installed the W . M . designate , Bro . Edward Le May , P . M ., who invested Bro . Edward Ball , P . M ., as his acting l . P . M . The election of Treasurer then took place , that of Tyler being deferred .

The VV . M . appointed and invested his officers for the ensuing year as follows : Bros . C R . Valentine , S . W . ; C . B . C Hancock , J . W . ; Frank H . Bowater , S . D . ; W . H . Le May , J . D . ; W . Watson , Treas . ; E . A . Foster , Sec . ; C Collard , P . M ., D . ot C ; J . Barnicott , I . G . ; and W . Olliver and Fred . W . Bowater , Stwds . A vote of thanks to ihe Consecrating Officers was proposed and unanimously carried .

A committee was elected to frame the bye-laws of the new lodge , and five candidates were proposed for initiation , and one proposition was received for a joining member . The Consecrating Ollicers , to whom was added the G . Secretary , were elected as hon . members of the lodge , and the S . W ., who has been acting Secretary pievious to the consecration , read apologies for inability to attend and other correspondence . The banquet was held in the Crown Room , Freemasons' Tavern .

At its conclusion grace was sung— " Deum Laudate " —by the musical brethren—Bros . Frank Tebbutt , Wm . Fell , Geo . Stubbs , and Herbert Schartau , P . M ., P . P . G . Org . Middx ., under whose direction a choice programme of excellent vocal music was arranged . The W . M . gave the customary toasts briefiy and to the point . That of " The ( Hieen and the Craft , " was followed by " The M . W . G . M ., H . R . H . the Prince of Wales . "

In proposing " The M . W . Pro G . M ., the Earl Amherst ; the R . W . L'ep . G . M ., the Earl of Warwick ; and the rest of the G . Ollicers , Present and Past , " the W . M . said the valuable services rendered to the Cratt by 'hese illustrious brethren needed no comment , they were patent to all . Bro . Rev . Canon BROWNRIOO , P . G . Chap ., replied on behalf of " The Ofrfd Officers . " He gave an amusing definition of a present Grand Umcer , and that of a brother in expectation of being so .

Consecration Of The Grove Park Kent Lodge, No. 2824.

" The Consecrating Officers , " was next given by the W . M ., who spoke of the efficient and impressive manner in which the ceremony had been rendered by the chief officer , and the able assistance he had received . An example had been given that evening , which , were it universally followed , would materially tend to exalt the honour and dignity of the Craft . He coupled the toast with the name of the presiding Consecrating Officer , Bro . Frank Richardson .

Bro . RICHARDSON replied . He regretted the unavoidable absence of the Grand Secretary , Bro . Letchworth . On behalf of his assistant officers and himself , he thanked the brethren for their kind appreciation ; he mentioned Bros . Mayer , Tower , and Langton as valuable aids in the grand ceremony that evening . It was always a great pleasure to him to assist in bringing a new lodge into existence . He extended a hearty welcome to the Grove Park Kent Lodge , wishing it present happiness and a bright and prosperous future .

Ihe ACTING l . P . M . gave the toast of " The W . M . " He said that he , and his trusty friend , the W . M ., had , in fraternal union , gone hand in hand together , steadily progressing in the knowledge of the tenets and principles of the Craft . It would , indeed , be a great pleasure to him were he able to render any assistance to the W . M . during his year of office . He did not think , however , it . would be needed . The l . P . M . made some sensible

practical remarks on Freemasonry generall y . The W . M . replied . He thanked his good friend , the I . P . M ., and the brethren for their kindness . He spoke of Freemasonry as the universal bond of Brotherhood which linked together , in happy union , all sorts and conditions of men . He urged them all , never to forget , that Charity was the brightest jewel which adorned a Freemason .

In proposing " The Visitors , " the W . M . mentioned Bros , the Rev . A . G . H . Dicker , P . G . C . of New Brunswick ; R . J . Clinckett , P . M ., P . D . S . G . W . Barbadoes ; and S . W . Shaw , P . P . I . G . Kent . He gave them and the other visiting brethren a hearty welcome . Bro . the Rev . A . G . H . DICKER replied . He spoke of the Canadian contingent which had volunteered for active service to assist their English brethren in the present South African war ; how loyal the Canadians had

proved themselves in upholding the cause of the Queen and the mother country . One of the strongest links that bound them together was that of Masonic Brotherhood . Bro . SHAW and others responded . In giving " The Officers of the Lodge , " the W . M . alluded to the work of the S . W . previous to the consecration of the lodge . The S . W . and J . W . responded . As a special toast , * ' The Health of Bro . Langton " was proposed bv the VV . M . v r J In reply , Bro . LANGTON said he felt proud of his name being associated with a lodge of instruction . The Tyler ' s toast brought a most enjoyable evening to a close . The Founder ' s Jewel was manufactured by Bros . George Kenning and Son , London .

Irish Antiquities.

IRISH ANTIQUITIES .

"The Warder , " in an article on " Irish Antiquities , " says : Clonfert Cathedral , now Clonfert Parish Church , is an ancient edifice known to all antiquarians throughout the length and breadth of the land . For some time the rector has been issuing appeals for the restoration of the ancient fanerestoration in the best sense of thc word , for nothing approaching vandalism will be allowed to touch the venerable building . Although much has been achieved , much remains to be done , and in the complete restoration of the edifice all who

value the ancient buildings of the country , especially when , as in the case of Clonfert Cathedral , they are dedicated to and used for sacred purposes , can join . The cathedral is full of interest . It is a link between the past and the presentthe past 1340 years or more . The building was erected in the year 558 , but since that time it has experienced many vicissitudes . Fire and plunder have on more than one occasion been its fate , but " resurgam " seems to be written in the very stones , for from each ordeal it has come out battered and bruisedbut nothing

, can detroy the whole of its original beauty , which is thc one aim of his life for the rector to see restored . In the year 1664—the earliest records which are just now obtainable—Bishop Wolseley restored the edifice after it had been almost destroyed by fire in 1541 , but since that last restoration very little has been or could be done to it . Clonfert is not a rich parish ; perhaps , considering the beauties to be found in and near it , it has been a neglected parish , too . A few

years ago a determined effort was made to do what was necessary . That effort is being steading continued , though progress is slow on account of want of funds , but it is progressing , and if only those interested will assist in providing the wherewithal for wresting a venerable and exceedingly interesting relic from the hand of time , Clonfert Cathedral will stand again in all its original beauty of architecture —a monument of the past and equally a monument of the self-denying , patient labours of Canon M'Larney and those who are working so enthusiastically with him .

Some time ago Miss White ( silver medallist ) , of Clonfert , took a fine photograph of a very interesting feature of the cathedral , probably the most interesting , the ancient doorway . Our artist has reproduced the photograph , and although the exigencies of fast printing which the publication of such a journal as "The Warder" entails prevents the picture being given with all the delicate gradations of light and shade possessed by the original , the reproduction itself gives some idea of the ancient work in stone carving , the delicacy and

wealth of detail with which the doorway alone is embellished . It has been admired by that great art critic , Ruskin , who , in spite of his horror of the modern vandalist , the church restorer , was so well pleased with the beauty of the edifice and the faithful manner in which it has been preserved that he gave a generous donation to the work . It is one of the finest specimens of Hiberno-Romanesque work in existence . Brash , in his " Ecclesiastical Architecture of Ireland , " says its fertility of invention and beauty of design are unequalled in

any part of Ireland . " Opinions are sumewhat divided as to the age of the doorway , but Brash ' s opinion as to its beauty is shared by all . Ware considers that it was the work of Bishop John , an Italian ( 12661291 )) , who also restored the West Front , but Brash suggests that it was erected by Peter O'Mordha ( or O'Moore ) , win was Bishop of Clonfert in 1161-1171 . In 18 90 some members of the Royal Society of Antiquaries visited the cathedral , and expressed themselves enraptured

with its magnificent doorway , " this marvellous specimen of Hiberno-Romanesque work . " One member in speaking of it called it "the exquisite cathedral of Clonfert , " and a well-known writer in a magazine declared that it would be well worth a pilgrimage to Clonfert if only to see this magnificent doorway . With this sentiment we heartily agree , and trust that the publication of the sketch will do a little towards evoking still further interest in it , and in helping on the great ; and national work in which the rector is engaged .