Consecration Of The Beacon Court Lodge, No. 1967, At New Brompton.

Votes of thanks were also accorded to the Provincial Grand Master for consecrating the lodge and to the Grand Chaplain for installing the VV . M . In the evening a banquet took place at the Ghuznee Fort Hotel , New Brompton , which is to be the permanent headquarters of the lodge . The W . M ., Bro . Blakey , presided , having the Provincial Grand Master ( Viscount Holmesdale ) and the Deputy Provincial Grand Master on his right . Among others present were Bros , the Rev . T . Robinson , G . C .: the Rev . R .

Jamblin , P . G . C ; B . K . Thorpe , P . G . T . ; W . Wood . P . J . W . ; A . Spencer , P . G . Sec . ; T . S . Warne , P . P . G . A . S . ; H . Wood , P . P . G . S . W . ; J . F . Lewis , W . M . 20 ; S . Voting , W . M . 1 S 4 ; E . Barrell , VV . M . 1050 ; and several brethren from the metropolis and thc colonies , the company

numbering nearly a hundred altogether . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were duly observed , and a highl ) enjoyable evening was spent .

Freemasonry In Australia.

FREEMASONRY IN AUSTRALIA .

13 V BRO . VV . I-. LAMONBY , P . M ., P . Z . Having fairly settled down to my Masonic duties in the capital of Victoria , it may be interesting to your readers if I give a rough sketch of the state of Masonry in that colony , and my impressions of it , gathered during the six weeks or so I have been resident in Melbourne . Atthe outset ,

I may observe that Australian Masonry , since the Freemason was first started , now nearly fifteen years ago , has received but scanty notice in your columns , and I shall have much pleasure in endeavouring to amend that by periodically sending you accounts of what transpires in connection with the different branches .

A day or two after my arrival in the colony 1 was introduced to the District G . Sec . of Victoria ( K . C . J ; Bro . P . H . Lempricrc , P . M ., P . Z ., an enthusiast and veteran in Masonry , and a native of the colony , whose son he also initiated in his mother lodge a few years back . Through Bro . Lempriere ' s energy and fostering care , Craft and Arch Masonry , under the English

Constitution , have attained a wonderful degree of vitality , and at the present time there are about a score of lodges and half-a-dozen chapters in active work belonging to the city and suburbs . I have had thc pleasure to visit several lodges and chapters so far , preparatory to affiliating ; but the great difficulty with me seems to make a choice , where one and all are so excellent in working and

flourishing in number of members . What is termed the "crack lodge" of Melbourne is thc Combermere , . 752 , and I had the good fortune to be present when there was a heavy night ' s work in the Three Degrees , an attendance of members and visitors close upon a hundred , and music by a choir of professional brethren , under thc direction of Bro . David Lee , the

city organist , thc like of which I certainly never heard in the old country . The chapters are also well attended , and the work ( inclusive of the lectures ) equal in efficiency to any at home . By thc way , the District Grand Lodge meets regularly in March , June , September and December , and the District Grand Chapter in June and December . The address of Bro . Lempriere is

54 , Queen-street , Melbourne , not No . 32 , as appears in your "Cosmopolitan Calendar , " There is a Mark lodge in Melbourne ( joining the Province of Victoria ) , a Preceptory , K . T ., and a Rose Croix Chapter , under the English Constitution , and all in active work , I have been pleased to note that in all lodges and chapters the production of the certificate is the first " sine qua

non " towards the reception of a strange visiting brother . Lodges of intruction are an institution , and several are held on thc Sunday . Another custom here is well worthy of mention , and that consists of the Masters of lodges sending out cards of invitation to brethren members of other lodges and constitution .

Under the Scottish Constitution there are six lodges in Melbourne and the suburbs , two or three of which I have had the opportunity of visiting , and had the good fortune to drop in when there was work to do . The ritual is almost the counterpart of the English , arising , no doubt , from thc regular intercourse which exists amongst the bodies working under the three British

Constitutions , as they meet in one common hall ; in fact , the " entente cordiale " in this respect is a pleasing attribute of Masonry as practised in Australia . By way of digression , I should not omit an interesting circumstance which came under my observation at the refreshment board of one of thc

Scotch lodges . The gavel used by the R . W . M . bears a silver plate , engraved with the name and number of a lodge in the county of Perthshire , that I know was working not long ago . Query—How came thc said gavel to travel from one end of the world to the other ? Nobody seems to know here .

Masonr } ' , under the " -egis " of the Irish Constitution , is likewise flourishing in Victoria . There are about ten lodges in Melbourne and suburbs ; and here again the work is a replica of our English system , besides being well performed by the presiding officer and his subordinates . An exception to the ritual , however , is provided by a lodge , meeting once a fortnight

under the title of the Ancient York , and whose work of the Three Degrees is according to the American system . Under thc Irish Constitution there i . a lodge of Past Masters , a very strong body of working Masons . On the occasion of my visit to the Past Masters' Lodge a very interesting and able lecture was delivered by onc of the brethren . The lodge is opened and

closed with a ceremony something similar to that used by Boards of Installed Masters in certain parts of the north of England . Thc only chapter under the Irish Constitution , viz ., the Washington , attached to the blue lodge of the same name , No . 368 , is very effectively worked , and , with the lectures ,

the ceremony of exaltation is nearly the same as the English , with the addition of " Passing the Veils . " Working under the Washington Chapter is a Mark Lodge , meeting on separate nights , the ritual of which , it should be explained , is a mixture of thc American and English ( the latter very much

Freemasonry In Australia.

disjointed ) . Though emergency has evidentl y been the result of its mani pulation , the ceremony of advancement is very interesting . Last week , when I visited the Washington Mark Lodge , there was not only the work o f advancement , but the installation of the VV . M . M . of an Irish Mark Lodge in Launceston , who , in consequence of there not being a competent

Installing Master in Tasmania , had come all the way for that purpose . The Provincial Grand ( blue ) Lod ge meets four limes a year—in March , June , September , and December . On Sunday ( May 14 th ) , there was a funcial lodge in Melbourne , when the Irish Masons , to the number of a hundred and upwards , followed the remains of Bro . I . Duross , an old Craftsman , P . M .

of several lodges , and a Past Officer of the province , to their last restingplace in thc cemetery . The lodge services , both before and after the interment , and at the graveside , were conducted by the R . W . Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Victoria , Bro . George Baker . Thc music and service generally , as exemplified by the Irish Constitution , is beautiful and impressive .

And now a few remarks anent thc lodge accommodation of Victorian Masons in general , and those of Melbourne in particular . In the metropolis there has long existed a Freemasons' Hall , situated in Lonsdale-strect East . It was formerly a Dissenting place of worship , built in the days when Melbourne was a ncw and rising city . The hall was purchased by a limited

company , who , for some years past , have felt that the building was too small and inconvenient for the growing requirements of the Craft , this being selfevident when it is seen that evary night in the week , except Saturday , it is occupied by one , and sometimes two lodges , Sec , English , Scotch , and Irish bodies all meeting in the place . The old and primitive-looking building is

accordingly condemned , and very shortly thc corner stone of a new and much larger temple will be laid with Masonic honours , it is expected by the Provincial Grand Master designate of the Irish Masons , Bro . the Hon . XV . J . Clarke , who is now in England . In the meantime the various lodges will meet in the Academy of Music , Bourke-slreel , East . The prize designs

selected were those of Messrs . Grainger and D'Ebro , architects , of Melbourne , and the style in Italian Renaissance . On the ground floor there will be a secretary ' s office , 19 feet by 10 feet , and two other rooms , 14 feet by 12 feet , and 13 feet by 12 feet . On the right of the entrance hall there arc two offices , 13 feet by 12 feet , and 14 feet by 12 feet . Thc large refreshment

room is 21 feet by 19 feet , the centre hall is 22 feet by 20 feet , and there are two flights of stairs leading to the upper floor . At the rear of the building , on the ground floor , is one of thc lodge-rooms , 54 feet by 27 feet , and 21 feet 6 inches high , with dressing , ante , and preparation rooms , lavatories , Sec . Thc upper floor contains a large hall , which can be used for ordinary meetings , extending along thc whole front 63 feet 6 inches , by 31 feet n

inches , and 26 feet high . At the back there will be another lodge-room , 63 feet by 27 feet , and 20 feet from floor to ceiling , with space for organ and choir . , The refreshment-room on this floor is 20 feet by 13 feet , and there are ante-rooms , & c , as in thc other lodge-rooms . The extra space has been obtained from thc ground in front of thc old building , which stands several feet back from thc street .

A new Masonic Hall will form a worthy addition to the many handsome buildings of Melbourne , a city that now has a population of over 280 , 000 inhabitants , whereas forty-five years ago it was simply a village of a few hundred inhabitants , and the buildings constructed of rough sawn planksi Thc rise of the colony , and with its rise thc progress of Masonry , is

something marvellous . As regards the suburbs , some of the Masonic Halls would be a credit to any large town at home , and that of Sandridge is not much behind what the new Melbourne hall will be . In my next I hope to be able to give some interesting particulars about the New ^ Jouth Wales situation , and the project some time past set on foot for thc constitution of an independent Grand Lodge of Victoria .

CI . ACTON-ON-SEA RAILWAY . —T hequietlittletown wVuchhasgrown up on the Essex coast within the last tenor twelve years under the name of Clacton-on-Sea , has now been connected with the railway system of the Great Kastern Company by a line which was formally opened on Tuesday . The new railway , which is about four and a half miles in length , branches off at Thorpe from the line to Walton-on-the-Naze , locally known as the Tendring Hundred Railway , the first three-quarters of a mile having been formed by widening that line . The cost of the railway , which has been

about two years in course of construction , is put down at £ 33 , 000 , sufficient land being secured to make a double line , with a treble line at the terminus and a station ground of twelve acre ? . The Great Eastern Company , who will work the line for the Clacton-on-Sea Railway Company , have put on a service of eight trains a day with one express each way—the fast train , which will leave Clacton at S . 20 a . m ., b , eing timed to reach town at 10 . 30 , and returning at 5 o ' clock in the afternoon from Liverpoolstreet . A special train which conveyed invited visitors to the place on Tuesday , made

the run of OS mlies from Liverpool-street to Clacton-on-Sea in a little over two hours , stopping twice only during the journey . The ceiemonyof declaring the line open was performed by the Mayor of Colchester , and the guests then walked in procession into the town , which was gaily decorated in honour of the event . The lifeboat Albert Edward , one of two presented to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution by the Freemasons of England as a thank-offering for the safe return of the Prince of Wales from India , was drawn , fully manned , at the head of the procession

and launched upon the beach . I'or their gallantry in saving , under unusually hazardous circumstances , the crew of the lugger Madeleine , as she lay a wreck on the Gunfleet Sands , the French Government have awarded the crew of this lifeboat two gold and eleven silver medals with certificates . A luncheon was served in thc Royal Hotel , the Mayor of Colchester , Mr . J . B . Harvey , presiding , when those present included Mr . James Round , M . P ., Mr . Errington , High Steward of Essex j Mr . ] . U . Hayes , chairman of the Clacton-on-Sea Land Company ; Mr . Bright-Wool ,

chairman of the new line ; Mr . VV . B . lowsc , Mr . Harman , Mr . F . J . Nunn , Mr . H . K . Spence , and about JOO ladies and gentlemen . In the course of the speeches , it was stated that a good supply of water had been provided , and that public companies had laid out on land , houses , gas and water supply , the pier , thc assembly hall , hotel , « X * c , over £ 190 , 000 . Sewerage works on an extensive scale , which would have an outlet nearly two miles at sea , were now being carried on , and it was believed that thc sanitary condition of thc place would be found in every way satisfactory .

A NEW AFRICAN * EXPEDITION . —The Council of the Royal Geographical Society have decided on equipping an expedition to Eastern Africa for the exploration of the snow-capped mountains , Kenia and Kilimanjaro , and the country between them and the eastern shores of Victoria Nyanza .. sMr . Joseph Thomson is to be the commander , and , according to present arrangements , he will leave England for Zanzibar to organise his party early in the ensuing year .