Ar01000

So heavy have been the demi mds on our space , that we have been compelle 0 - to hold over r . tost of our ordinar y reports , and some of a special character , for which we would gladly have found space had it been possible . Among the latter is the repr rt of the very successful festival which our East Lancashire brethren held on Wednesday in behalf of their Systematic Educational and Benevolent

Institutior . The amount received in donations and subscriptions exceeded £ 4000 , and is the largest amount ever contributed by this Province to any single festival , whether local or general . In 1 S 8 S it raised upwards of £ 4000 , but the amount was apportioned between the Benevolent Institution and the Girls' School . We shall give a full report of the meeting next week .

A Court of Governors of the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution will be held at the Masonic Hall , Liverpool , this ( Friday ) evening at 7 p . m ., when six children will be elected on the Educational branch of the Fund , two on the Combined Fund , and four on the Advancement Fund .

The School Quarterly Courts will be held at Freemasons' Hall next week , that of the Girls'School being fixed for Thursday , the nth instant , at the hour of 12 noon , and that of the Boys' School the day following at 4 p . m . At both Courts the lists of candidates for the October Election will be settled , and the number of vacancies to be competed for declared .

It will be seen from our report of the annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Kent at Maidstone , on Wednesday , that Bro . J . S . Eastes , P . G . D ., Dep . P . G . M ., was presented with a testimonial in recognition of his long and

meritorious services to Freemasonry both generally and in his own particular Province , and we gladly tender to Yvim our warm congratulations on the honour thus conferred upon him . The subject of " Masonic Vagrants " was also considered , but upon this we shall take occasion to offer some remarks next week .

We beg to remind our readers that the anniversary Festival in aid of the Mark Benevolent Fund will be held at Freemasons' Tavern on Wednesday next , the 10 th inst ., under the presidency of Bro . Lord Skelmersdale , Past S . G . W . We trust it will prove even more successful than its predecessors . It is a kindly and pleasant annual custom of the Board of Stewards at the

Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls to give the children a day at the Crystal Palace . As a rule , indeed , it is the greatest treat they have in the year , and Monday last proved no exception . Save a short mid-day shower which rather cooled the air , the day was bright and lovely , and the various amusements the Palace provides were enjoyed by the girls to the full , not the least

of their satisfaction proceeding from the liberal catering in the way of dinner and tea of Messrs Bertram . The Chairman and several of the House Committee , the Secretary , and the various members of the educational staff were present throughout the day , which will be long remembered , especially by those who are now leaving school , as a very delightful one .

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , in a spirit ot fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . J

MASONIC VAGRANTS . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Some few weeks since 1 wrote you on the subject of " Masonic Vagrants . " I now give you my latest experience , trusting you will think fit to give it publicity in the Freemason .

On the 21 st inst . a man called on me asking for Masonic relief . I asked for his certificate . In reply he handed me a letter on Masonic note paper , ot which the following is a copy : " Annesley Lodge , No . 1435 , Nottingham . " April , I 8 Q S .

"This is to certify that the Grand Lodge Certificate of Bro . E . C . R has been forwarded by this lodge to the Board of Benevolence , London , with a petition on his behalf . He has been a member of this lodge since 18 74 , and Past Master over to years . Through ill-health has drifted into adversity . " ( Signed ) ARTHUR PHELPS , Secy . " Also signed by E . C . R , whose signature is supposed to be verified by Thos . Pegg , W . M .

Suspecting a fraud , I told him I would make enquiries , and if a genuine case would relieve him . I need hardly say he did not call again . I enclose you Bro . Phelps' reply , for you to use as much of as you think fit . These rascals ought to be stopped . —Yours faithfully and fraternally , WILLIAM SMITH , P . M . and Sec . 996 , June 30 th . Prov . G . Treas . Norfolk .

"Smedley ' s Hydropathic Establishment , " Matlock , June 27 th , 1895 . " My Dear Sir and Brother , " Your favour to band regarding E . C . R . I regret to say he is a 'fraud , ' and unworthy any decent man ' s aid , much more a Mason ' s . He was employed at the request of the Nottingham Town Missionary by my late brother , William Phelps , afterwards by Thomas Pegg , whom he robbed . Since then I have lost sight of him .

"Anyway , I was never Secretary of the Annesley , 1435 , and did not write or sign the letter . "Thomas Pegg , whose address is Long Eaton , Derbyshire , is not , I believe , a brother , and certainly not of 1435 . I think you have the party fast . " Sorry for delay in replying . I am laid up with neuralgia . —Truly yours

"ARTHUR PHELPS , "Clevedcn , The Park , Nottingham . " W . Smith , Esq . "

IT IS ANNOUNCED that the Queen will vjsit Aldershot on the 10 th inst . HHer Majesly will , it is believed , stay at the Duke of Connaught ' s residence at Bagshot Park , and will probably pay a visit to the Empress Eugenie at Farnborough . The Queen and Court will be present at an operatic performance which is to be given on Monday evening at Windsor Castle .

Consecration Of The Rahere Lodge, No. 2546.

CONSECRATION OF THE RAHERE LODGE , No . 2546 .

CONSTITUTED BY THE M . W . GRAND MASTER .

On Saturday last a new lodge for the London district was consecrated at St . Bartholomew ' s Hospital , under the title of " The Rahere Lodge , " after the name of the founder of the Church of St . Bartholomew the Great , West Smithfield , and of St . Bartholomew ' s Hospital . The lodge was founded for the convenience of the Medical Staff of the Hospital , and on the presentation of the petition for a warrant the Most Worshipful Grand

Master expressed his intention to attend and take part in the ceremony of consecration . The warrant was granted on January 5 th , and the founders awaited the convenience of his Royal Highness for appointing a day for the ceremony . The convenience was signified 11 days before the meeting , and the brethren lost no time in getting everything ready . Their efforts were so successful that the arrangements were complete , and the gathering lacked nothing that could give brilliancy to the celebration .

The founders of the new lodge were Bros . Clement Godson , M . D ., P . G . D . ; Alfred Cooper , F . R . C . S ., P . G . D . ; W . J . Walsham , F . R . C . S ., P . M . ; D'Arcy Power , F . R . C . S ., P . M ., P . J . G . W . Warwickshire T . G . A . Burns , P . M ., P . P . J . G . D . Surrey ; W . Haig Brodie , M . D ., P . M ., P . P . G . D . Surrey ; F . Swinford Edwards , F . R . C . S ., P . M . ; J . H . Gilbertson , P . M ., P . P . S . G . D . Herts ; B . Latter Tandy , P . M ., P . P .

S . G . W . Essex ; W . Gripper , M . B ., P . M . ; P . S . Abraham , M . D ., E . Clarke , F . R . C . S ., G . H . R . Holden , M . D ., A . G . R . Fouleiton , H . D . Lauchlan , G . H . Forman , J . E . Sandilands , C . A . Parker , F . R . C . S ., A . A . Bowlby , F . R . C . S ., F . W . Clark , M . B ., W . T . Partridge , J . Pickett , M . D ., W . M . 2410 ; C . B . Lockwood , F . R . C . S ., W . M . 1150 ; R . J . Reece , M . D ., P . M . ; C . P . White , M . B ., and Thomas Trollope , M . D ., P . G . D .

The lodge was opened by the Grand Secretary , assisted by Bros . Robert Grey , J . C . Parkinson , Frank Richardson , and P . Hickson Waterlow , and immediately afterwards the Most Worshipful Grand Master was announced . The brethren all stood to order , and H . R . H . the Prince of Wales entered the lodge , which was held in the beautiful large hall of the hospital , accompanied

by the Crown Prince of Denmark , Bros , the Earl of Lathom , G . C . B ., Field-Marshal Lord Roberts , Lord Skelmersdale , General Laurie , Dr . Balfour Cockburn , The Dean of Gloucester , W . M . Stiles , Grand Treasurer ; R . Loveland Loveland , Frank Richardson , J . H . Matthews , Dr . F . Ernest Pocock , Col . Le Gendre N . Starkie , and Col . Ward , C . B ., G . S . B .

There were also present in the lodge : Bros . E . Letchworth , G . Sec ; Philip H . Waterlow , P . G . D . ; T . L . Wilkinson , P . D . G . R . ; Fred . Coles , P . G . S . B . ; Gen . John Corson Smith , P . G . M . of Illinois , U . S . A ., and Rep . Grand Lodge of England ; Hugh Mackintosh , P . A . G . D . C ; George E . Fairchild , Asst . G . D . C . ; W . H . Sissons , P . A . G . D . C . Lieut .-Col . W . Newton , J . G . D . ; Chas . Martin , P . A . G . D . C ; G . H . Hopkinson ,

P . D . G . D . C ; Col . J . Ward , G . S . B . ; Edwd . Cutler , P . G . Org . ; Rudolph G . Glover , F . S . A ., P . D . G . D . C . ; J . S . Cumberland , Dep . G . S . B . ; George Beech , P . G . Std . Br . ; Peter de L . Long , P . G . D . ; Col . Lorenzo G . Dundas , G . D . ; W . S . Hoyte , P . G . Org . ; Henry F . Frost , G . Org . ; Robert Grey , President Board of Benevolence ; W . de M . Sergison , P . G . O . ; Captain N . G . Philips , P . S . G . D . ; J . C . Parkinson , P . G . D . ; C . F . Matier , P . G . Std . Br . ; Viscount Dungarvan ,

Prov , G . M . Somerset ; Col . Le Gendre N . Starkie , P . G . W ., Prov . G . M . East Lancashire ; J . Balfour Cockburn , P . G . M . Guernsey and Alderney ; Lieut .-Col . John A . Bindley , P . G . D . ; E . J . Barron , P . G . D .: Sir J . R . Somers Vine , P . G . D . ; Thomas Trollope , M . D ., P . G . D . ; Rev . H . R . Cooper Smith , P . G . C . ; W . Lake , Asst . G . Sec ; W . C . Beaumont , P . A . G . D . C ; H . J . Strong , P . A . G . D . C ; Rev . C . J . Martyn , P . G . C ; Dr . Lennox Browne , P . D . G . D . C ; A . S . Tomkins , J . G . D . ; C . E . Keyser , P . G . D . ; F . Mead , P . G . S . B . ; and a large number of visitors .

The Earl of Lathom , who was to consecrate the lodge , took the chair that had been occupied by the Grand Secretary , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales sitting on his immediate right , and next to him sat the Crown Prince of Denmark . Bro . Lord Roberts acted as Senior Warden , Bro . Lord Skelmersdale as Junior Warden , Bro . the Dean of Gloucester , the Very Rev . Henry Donald Spence , D . D ., as Chaplain , and Bro . Frank Richardson as Director of Ceremonies , Bros . J . H . Matthews and Dr . F . Ernest Pocock assisting .

The lodge being thus duly formed , the first business was to salute the M . W . Grand Master , which was done in the usual form . Bro . the Earl of LATHOM then announced that the lodge was honoured with the presence of the Crown Prince of Denmark , M . W . Grand Master of Denmark , and the salute due to a Grand Master was thereupon given to

his Royal Highness . After the opening hymn—the musical portion of the ceremonies being performed under the direction of Bro . H . F . Frost , P . M ., Grand Organist , assisted by Bros . W . A . Frost , A . Kenningham , A . L . Fryer , and G .

Stubbs—Bro . the Earl of LATHOM said : Brethren , —We are met here to-day to consecrate the Rahere Lodge , No . 2546 on the roll of United Grand Lodge of England , and the lodge is appropriately named after the founder of this great hospital . Brethren , I can only wish that this lodge may prove of vast benefit to the Craft ; that it may be the means of many more members being enrolled in our body . I wish it every success , and I think , brethren , you ought to be glad and thankful that it has been possible for his Royal Highness , the Most Worshipful Grand Master , to be present on this occasion .

After the usual formalities of the Grand Secretary addressing the Consecrating Officer , the founders being arranged in order , the Grand Secretary read the warrant , and the brethren signifying their approval of the officers named in the warrant in reply to the Consecrating Officer , the Earl of Lathom called on the Dean of Gloucester for the oration .

The Dean of GLOUCESTER , who was attired in the scarlet robes of a Doctor of Divinity , delivered the following oration ; Some seven-and-a-half centuries ago Rahere , a knightly minstrel of the Court of Henry Beauclerc , was lying sick unto death . In a vision of the nig ht a man of unearthly beauty and majesty came and stood by him , and said , " Rahere