Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

H . R . H . Prince George , Duke of York , with H . S . H . Princess May . Having read it , he begged to move that it be entered on the minutes . This concluded the business of the meeting , and Prov . G . Lodge was closed . The brethren afterwards adjourned to the George Hotelwhere dinner

, was served . In the unavoidable absence of the Prov . G . Master , the Deputy , Bro . Henry Smith , presided . Upwards of 90 brethren sat down , and the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were proposed and duly honoured . The Huddersfield brethren contributed some excellent music , which was highly appreciated .

Consecration Of The Ixion Lodge. No. 2501.

CONSECRATION OF THE IXION LODGE . No . 2501 .

The first of two new lodges for the Province of Essex since the consecration of the Earl of Warwick Lodge , was consecrated on Monday last , at the Roebuck Hotel , Buckhurst Hill . It was founded for the convenience of cyclists , and was given the apt name of I . xion . Its domicile was also well chosen , as Bro . A . C . Smith ' s Roebuck Hotel is a deservedly popular halting place for wheel-men on the Epping road . No better place could

have been chosen for a Masonic lodge , as the new buildings attached to the old hotel afford every accommodation for large assemblies and for subsequent repasts , the halls and adjoining rooms entailing no delay between the business and refection portions of the day's proceedings . The Earl of Warwick , Provincial Grand Master of Essex , was to have performed the ceremony of consecration , and his Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Philbrick , Q . C ,

was to have performed the installation . Neither brother , however , put in an appearance , the former having left England for America for a short space , and the latter having anott er unexpected engagement . The duties , therefore fell on Bro . Thomas James Railing , P . ov . G . Sec , and Bro . A . Lucking , P . A . G . P . Bro . B . Holdinott , acted as S . W . ; Bro . R . Clowes , as J . W . ; theRev . H . T . Armfield , as Chaplain ; Bro . Lucking , as D . C . ; and Dr . Dring , as I . G . A very large number of brethren were present .

The founders of the lodge were : Bros . H . Ffrench Bromhead , P . M . 1662 , P . P . G . Supt . ot Wks . Essex ; Jos . Wilson , 2374 , P . G . S . B . Essex ; D . Naphtali , 1 349 ; H . E . Herman , 2374 ; W . Hind , 1489 ; W . Gower , 2374 ; H . Simmons , 1349 ; R . Sandell , 1719 ; Ven . Archdeacon Dr . Dunbar , 2374 ; C . Spurgeon , 45 ; W . J . Barnes , 1227 ; T . H . Lloyd , 2374 ; A . C . Smith , 2328 ; I . Simmance , 1719 ; H . T . Arnott , 154 1 ; H . J . Davis , 1662 ; H .

Gemmell , 2374 ; H . Taylor , 2168 ; W . Lucas , 1669 ; J . M . Morrison , 2374 ; W . Taylor , 193 j J . Foster , 193 ; E . Fuller , 95 ; A . Jacobs , 1349 ; H . Love , 2318 ; J . M . Scarlett , P . M . 1799 , P . P . J . G . W . Essex ; J . Briginshaw , P . M . 2256 ; J . Jarrett , 1662 ; F . A . Simmond , 1839 ; F . E . Smith , 2409 ; H . Hamblock , 2318 ; J . R . Carter , 2374 ; and H . Smith , 1327 . Letters of apology for inability to be present were read from the Earl of

Lathom , Col . Sir Walter Wilkin , and Archdeacon Dunbar . After the opening of the lodge Bro . RALLING explained , first , the reason of his presiding , and secondly the reason of establishing this lodge—that there might be a Masonic home for brethren of the wheel . He hoped that as accidents by cycles were very few there might be few accidents in the lodge—indeed he trusted the Ixion might be a most successful lodge .

The musical arrangements , under the direction of Bros . T . H . Lloyd and H . Jefferson Davis , greatly contributed to the success of the consecration , which followed the delivery of this address . Bro . ARMFIELD , Chaplain , then delivered an oration . When the ceremony of consecration and dedication was completed , Bro . Albert Lucking installed Bro . H . Ffrench Bromhead , P . M . 2318 and 2374 ,

W . M . 1662 , Member of the Correspondence Circle , 2076 , P . P . G . S . of W . Essex , as W . M . The following brethren received the other collars : Bros . Joseph Wilson , P . M . 1 155 and 2374 , P . G . S . B ., acting I . P . M . ; D . Naphtali , 1349 , S . W . ; H . E . Herman , 1599 and 2374 , J . W . ; R . Sandell , 1719 , Treas . j C Spurgeon , 45 and 2318 , Sec ; W . W . Hind , 1489 , S . D . ; W ,

Gower , 2374 , J . W . 2472 , J . D . ; H . Simmons , 1349 , I . G . ; Ven . Archdeacon Dunbar , 2374 , Chap . ; W . J . Barnes , 1227 , D . C ; T . H . Lloyd , 2374 , Org- ; J- P- Simmance , 1719 , A . C . Smith , 231 S , and H . T . Arnott , 1541 , Stewards ; and D . Legg , P . M ., Tyler . The Consecrating Officers were elected honorary members .

Bro . Joseph Wilson was elected representative of the lodge on the Provincial Charity Committee , and the W . M ., the Wardens , the Treasurer , and the Secretary were elected the Committee to frame the lodge by-laws . After the closing of the lodge , the brethren adjourned to a choice banquet , which was admirably served . The usual toasts followed .

Bro . RICHARD CLOWES , P . G . Std . Br ., in the course of his reply to the toast of " The Grand Officers , " said the W . M . might well say the high officers of Grand Lodge were distinguished , because all the brethren would agree that a more aristrocratic or good-looking man never existed than the Earl of Lathom . It must have been a great pleasure to the brethren who were in Grand Lodge on April 25 th to see Lord Lathom ' s son invested as

J . G . W ., and they were ' much pleased to hear from his lordship at the banquet table that Lord Skelmersdale joined the ranks of Masonry without any word from him , and even before he knew it . He could not omit to mention the services of Bro . Ralling to the Order , but every one knew what he did in Essex . F ^ ssex was his ( Bro . Clowes ' s ) mother county , although he resided " 1 Sussex , and Essex had the first place in his heart . He was pleased to be

an honorary member of the Ixion Lodge , and he hoped to see it become a distinguished lodge . Bro . Tuou , P . A . G . P ., also responded . The WORSHIPFUL MASTER , in giving " The Health of the Provincial Grand Master of Essex , the liarl of Warwick , " regretted his lordship's absence that day . At the consecration of the F ' arl of Warwick Lodge "is lordship promised him faithfully he would be present . His

lords "ip took the greatest interest in the Masonry of the province , and * ' did Bro . Philbrick , the Deputy Prov . Grand Master . All the Provincial t'i ' and Officers took great interest in the affairs of the Craft , especially the ' rovincial Grand Chaplain , who had given a manifestation of his interest 'hat night . Bro . LLOVD , Prov . Grand Chaplain , responded .

Bro . ' 1 ' . J . RALLING said he certainly believed in Masonic work , but he * ould much rather have seen the Prov . Grand Master or his Deputy consecrate the Ixion Lodge than do it himself . Still , he was very happy to be able to do his duty . He wished every prosperity to the lodge and to the

^ 'M ., and he welcomed the new lodge into the Province : of Essex . Under lhc guidance of Bro . Bromhead he felt that the lodge would have a very Prosperous year , and he only could hope the brc ' ihren who had come as ^ heelers into Essex , would never regret coming into their lodge . Bro . J OSEPH WILSON , I . P . M ., proposed "The VV . M ., " a toast which

Consecration Of The Ixion Lodge. No. 2501.

needed no words to raise Bro . Bromhead in their estimation . Bro . Bromhead was a thoroughly good and efficient Mason . It was mawty due to Bro . Bromhead ' s indefatigable exertions that the brethren were met together that day to assist in the consecration of the I . xion Lodge . That was not the first lodge he was a founder of in the Province oi Essex . He was a founder and the first S . W . of the Lennox Browne Lodge , and he was

a founder in connection with their host , Bro . A . C . Smith , and Bro . Herbert Smith , of the William Shurmur Lodge . It had been his privilege to be associated with Bro . Bromhead for some years , both in Craft and Royal Arch Masonry . They were members of the same lodge , and of the same lodges of instruction , and of the same chapters and chapters of improvement in the province , and he had always found him one of those who considered if a thing was worth doing at all it was worth doing well , and he did it well . Bro .

Bromhead was S . E . of a chapter of which he ( Bro . Wilson ) was a Past Principal , and the P . Z . of a chapter of which he ( Bro . Wilson ) was Principal . It was his pleasing duty some three or four months ago to pin on Bro . Bromhead ' s breast a jewel in recognition of his services to the chapter as Farst Principal . His good qualities were legion ; he was one who did good by stealth and blushed to find it fame . He was going up as Steward for the Girls' School , and the lodge would give 25 guineas to his list .

Bro . BROMHEAD , VV . M ., replying , said he was very proud of the honour the lodge had conferred upon him . He was a secondhand Master , and secondhand juice of the grape was considered to produce very inferior wine . But although he was a secondhand Master in the sense that he was not in the first instance intended to be the Master of that lodge ( Bro . Alfred Pinder was to have been the Master ) , he would do his duty . Old clothes were better

than new . Then the ancient volume of the Sacred Law said they should not put new wine into old bottles , but they had put old wine into a new bottle He was pleased to have been a founder of that lodge and of the William Shurmur Lodge . He was proud to have been invested by Bro . Dr . Scorcsby Jackson as S . W . of the Lennox Browne Lodge . He could assure Bro . Ralling for the Provincial Grand Master and his officers that he would do

his best in return for their recommendation of the petition for the lodge to hand over the warrant entrusted to his care to his successor pure and unsullied as he had received it . They knew he was a disciplinarian . He had good and true men as co-founders , and at the end of 12 months he thought he should be able to give a good ¦ record of the lodge ' s doings . They did not aim at obtaining numbers ;

certainly they wanted numbers , but only numbers combined with qualityonly men worthy to cross the threshold of his own door . Pounds , shillings , and pence did not make a man ' s morality . A man should be a truthful man . Ixion ' s crime was a terrible crime , but his punishment was very great as he was bound to a four-spoked wheel . But in this lodge they were not going to be bound to a four-spoked wheel ; they would have many spokes . They

would have the best men in Essex and not only in lissex but in other places ; they would climb all the mountains of dillicully and surmount them with courage , and at the end of his year of office he hoped his successor would have as hearty support as he ( the W . M . ) had that night . The fundamental principle of Freemasonry was Charity . He was going to be Steward for the Girls' Festival , and he was , he hoped not , unreasonable in asking the brethren ' s support to his list .

Bros . GRANTHAM , R . DODD , GEORGE GRVYELEY , and SAUNDERS responded to the toast of "The Visitors , '' and Bro . F . R . W . HEDGES , Sec . R . M . I . G ., to that of " The Charities . " The S . W . and J . W . replied for " The Officers , " and the Tyler's toast closed the proceedings . The lodge ' was furnished by Bro . George Kenning .

Consecration Of The Thomas Ralling Lodge.

CONSECRATION OF TEE THOMAS RALLING LODGE ,

No . 2508 . The last of the new Essex lodges , the Thomas Ralling Lodge , No . 250 S , was consecrated on Tuesday at the Victoria Hotel , Chingford . Not only to Essex Masons , but to Masons of London and of the provinces generall y , the name will be familiar , though never before applied to a lodge . Bro . Thomas John Ralling , the Provincial Grand Secretary of Essex for the last 17 years , who in 1888 received the rank in Grand Lodge of an Assistant Grand

Director of Ceremonies , is one of the best known Masons in England , having been for many years a regular attendant at all the Quarterly Communications of Grand Lodge and the Convocations of Grand Chapter . Bro . Railing ' s services to Masonry have also extended to the Charities of thc Order , and his influence in carrying an Essex candidate is always felt . It was considered desirable that such a name should be perpetuated in the

form of being given to a lodge , and assisted by many brethren of the musical lodge , the Orpheus , No . 1706 , not much difficulty was found in obtaining the recommendation of the linrl of Warwick , the Provincial Grand Master of Essex , to the petition which was presented to the Grand Master for a warrant . This having been obtained , Tuesday last was appointed for the consecration ,

and though unfortunately the Earl of Warwick was not able to attend , his place was taken by Bro . Philbrick , Q . C , G . Reg ., the Deputy Prov . Grand Master , who performed the ceremony . More than So brethren attended , among whom were four out of seven brothers of Bro . Thomas J . Ralling , who are all Masons . Out of the seven , Bro . Railing himself initiated six . There was a large number of brethren piesent .

The Senior Warden's chair was occupied by Bro , lloddinott , P . S . G . W ., and the Junior Waiden's chair by Bro . J . Salter , P . P . J . G . W . Bro . the Rev . Thomas Varney , Prov . G . Chap ., acted as Chaplain , and Bro . Albert Lucking as D . C . After the lodge had been opened ,

Bro . PHILBRICK , Q . C , G . Reg ., said in consequence of the unavoidable absence of their beloved Prov . Grand Masier , the Earl nf Warwick , the duty of consecrating the lodge had devolved " |> o' \ dim . Lie knew that it was a matter of great regret to liis lordship that hi > wis compellfd to be absent on that occasion . lie Ivid received a Idler fiO'ii his I ndship , dated from Warwick Cast !" , asking him to inform the brii ' irt-n tli . at he had bum

summoned to America on important business , and obliging him to s'art on the previous day . 'l'he R . W . brollii'r went on to spe . ik ol the peculiar interest the consecration of a new lodge had lo the Fraternity . It was giving effect to , and calling into active life , the warrant of the Most VVorshi pful Grand Master for a new organisation , a new centre of brotherhood , and fraternal

union , to be planted where the warrant directed , and which it was to be hoped would lend to the diffusion of those principles to which they were so much attached . The lodge bore the name of a well-known and largelyrespected brother ; and it was a fortunate matter that the lodge had for its lirst Master , their Bro . Hailing , the Prov . Grand Secretary , and who had also been honoured by the Grand Master with an appointment as olliccr of