Consecration Of The Military Lodge, No. 2621.

entered the lodge-room in precession , appointed the following as his officers : Bros . Dr . J . Balfour Cockburn , Prov . Grand Master Guernsey and Alderney , S . VV . ; Col . L . G . Dundas , P . G . D ., J . W . ; the Rev . J . Studholme Brownrigg , P . G . C , Chaplain ; C . F . Matier , P . G . Std . Br ., D . C . ; and Col . Powell , P . P . G . Stwd ., I . G ,

The GRAND SECRETARY having addressed the brethren on the purpose for which they had met together , " and the members of the new lodge having been arranged in order , the petition and warrant were read by the D . of C , and ihe members , in response to an enquiry from the Grand Secretary , having signified their approval of the officers named in the warrant , the CHAPLAIN delivered one of his brief , but telling , orations on the nature and principles of the Institution .

The ceremony was then proceeded with , and when the Iodge had been duly conslituted , Bro . Capt . Hearn , P . M . of the South Staffordshire Regiment , was installed in the chair of K . S . by the Grand Secretary . The W . M . ha \ ing been prcclaimed and saluted , invested Bros . Capt . Franklyn , R . E ., S . W ., and I . eut . R . A . Marshal , P . M ., ist Surrey Rifles , J . W ., and the rest of the officers having been appointed and invested , a

Commiltee vas appointed to frame by-laws and several propositions for initiation and joining were handed in . A vote of thanks to the Grand Secretary and the ofiicers who had assisted him was passed by acclamation , and there being r . o other business , the lodge was closed and the brethren and their guests dined together at the adjoining tavern , under the presidency of the W . M . The musical arrangements , both in lodge and afterwards , were under the direction of Bro . F . Bevan , P . M ., P . P . G . Org . Essex .

The following is a complete list of the founders of this promising lodge , and we corgralulate them most warmly on the marked success of the inaugural meeting : Bros . L eut . H . J . Adams , R . Berridge , P . M ., P . G . D . Eng . ; Major Bowles , M . P ., Majar Bridges , P . M ., P . P . G . D . Somerset ; Major Carrell , V . D ., P . M ., P . G . Swd . Br . Eng . ; Quarter-Master-Sergt . Carter , P . M ., P . P . A . G . D . C . Surrey ; C . E . Malet de Cartaret , P . G . Swd .

Br . Jersey ; Su-g .-Major Colgate , W . M . 916 ; Lieut . P . Collinson , Capt . Down , P . M . ; Major El ' in , P . M . ; Major Easterbrook , V . D ., P . M . ; Capt . Fenner , P . M ., P . D . G . O . Japan ; Capt . Franklyn , P . G . S . Gibraltar ; Capt . Gates , Lieut . Godfrey , P . G . S . Jersey ; Capt . Hanson , Capt . Hearn , P . M ., Prov . G . Std . Br . Guernsey and Alderney ; Major Helpman , Major Henry , W . M . 2094 ; Lieut .-Col . Kent , V . D ., P . M . ; Lieut . R . Lake , Lieut . C ,

Lovelake , H . Thompson-Lyon , Col . Sir Terence O Brten , K . C . M . G ., P . G . D . Eng . ; J . Maitland , P . M ., P . Deputy P . G . M . Ceylon ( I . C . ) ; Lieut . R . A . Marshall , P . M . ; Capt . Marquis , Staff-Sergt . McKinney , Col . the Earl of Portarlington , W . M . 2205 ; T . Preston , Capt . Richmond Parry , Lieut . L . E . Richmond Parry , Major Clifford-Probyn , Master-Gnnner M ,

Roddy , P . M . ; Capt . Roberts , Lieut . Schreiner , Lieut . Stephens , the Rev , S . Stuart Stitt , M . A . ; Major Stillwell , P . G . S . Eng ., P . S . G . W . Sussex ; Sergt .-Major Trydell , the Rev . W . Wakeford , M . A . ; Capt . Woollett , P . M ., P . G . S . Eng . ; and the Rev . C . E . L . Wright , M . A ., Prov . G . Chap , N . and E . Yorks .

Presentation Of A New Banner To The Rose Of Raby Lodge, No. 1650.

PRESENTATION OF A NEW BANNER TO THE ROSE OF RABY LODGE , No . 1650 .

On Tuesday evening , the 28 th ult ., the regular meeting of the . Rose of Rab y Lodge was the occasion for a visit of the ofiicers of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Durham , and a beautiful new banner , which had been most tastefully designed and worked by Mrs . Wm , Swales , of Darlington , was presented to the lodge by Bro . W . Swales , P . M ., and unfurled by Bro . R . Hudson , the Prov . Grand Secretary of Durham .

The WiM ., Bro . Jno . Ed . Backhouse , presided , and the other officers present Were Bros . Thos . Imeson , S . W . ; G . P . Andrews , J . W . -, the Rev . J . H . Evans , M . A ., P . M ., Chap . ; W . Swales , P . M ., P . P . G . O ., Treas . ; John Robinson , P . M ., P . P . G . Std . Br ., Sec . ; R . B . Franklin , S . D . ; W . Chapman , J . D . ; and J . Bailey , P . M ., P . P . J . G . W ., D . C . The Prov . Grand Officers in attendance were Bros . R . Hudson , P . G . S . B . Eng ., P . G . S . ; C . H . Backhouse , P . P . J . G . W . ; J . C . Moor ,

P . J . G . W . ; R . S . Benson , P . G . Treas . ; C . W . Anderson , P . S . G . D . ; J . R . Thompson , P . G . D . C . ; J . J . Wilkes , Mayor of Darlington , P . M . ; W . C . Barron , P . P . G . S . B . - , B . S . Beckwith , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; Wm . Hodgson , P . J . G . D . ; J . W . Wilkes , P . M . 1650 ; J . H . Leech , P . P . G . Stwd . ; David Finlay , P . P . G . P . ; M . Bradley , P . M . ; Thomas Wood , P . M . ; Thos . Coates , P . M . 1650 ; George

W . Hudson , P . G . S . of Wks . N . andE . Yorks ; C . J . Walton , W . M . in ; J . G Hall , P . P . A . G . D . C ; J . Thompson , . P . P . G . Treas . ; W . E . Brown , I . P . M . in ; D . B . Todd , P . M . 1121 ; J . W . B . Heslop , J . W . 1230 ; Wm . Phillipson , Sec , 2497 ; J . Broughton , J . W . in ; A . Grundey , Sec . in ; J . E . Bovnes , Org . 1650 ; and J . J . Johnson , Stwd . 1650 .

After other business , the presentation of the new banner took place , the W . M , calling upon Bro . W . SWALES , P . M ., who said it gave him very great pleasure to present the banner on behalf of his wife . It was nearly 20 years since the lodge was consecrated , and they had not had a banner , but his wife had been pleased to design and work that banner , which he then presented . ( Applause . )

Bro . J . E . BACKHOUSE , W . M ., said it gave him great pleasure , on behalf of the lodge , to receive the beautiful banner , which Bro . Swales had presented on behalf of his wife . It was a kind and noble present . He had again pleasure in accepting the banner , done in so kind-hearted a manner by Mrs . Swales . ( Loud applause . ) He moved that a vote of thanks be accorded to Mrs . Swales , which was seconded by Bro . J . J . WILKES , P . M ., Mayor of Darlington , and carried with acclamation .

Bro . R . HUDSON , Prov . G . Sec , in proceeding to unfurl the banner , referred to the pleasure he had in being present at the consecration of the lodge , about 20 years ago , by the then P . G . M ., Bro . John Fawcett , and when he was P . G . D . of C . The brethren had been good enough to ask him ( Bro . Hudson ) to unfurl the banner which Mrs . Swales had so beautifully designed and worked for that lodge .

and , as P . G . Secretary and as a personal friend , he had great pleasure in complying with their request . He trusted the banner would be an emblem of peace and jjo . idwill tc thi ; brethren for many years to come . ( Loud applause . ) TV . \ l M nnd ; i kind letter from Bro . Lord Barnard , P . M ., P . P . S . G . W ., I' ' -vii . iv- 11 able to be present , but congratulated the lodge on its progress as shown in the ceremony that evening . ( Loud applause . )

Presentation Of A New Banner To The Rose Of Raby Lodge, No. 1650.

The " Hearty good wishes " of the Provincial Grand Lodge and of the visitors from other lodges were expressed , and the lodge was afterwards closed . The banner , which is of Masonic design , bears upon the upper portion '' R ° ° f Raby Lodge , 1650 ; " upon the centrepiece is a front view of Raby Castle and the lake , painted by Mrs . Swales upon cream satin , with arms and square and compasses worked on the lower part . An ear of corn and sprig 0 [ acacia , beautifully designed , surrounding the centrepiece with appropriate adorn , ment . U pon the obverse side is the name of the lodge and the number , and the entwined initials F . W . S . within the square and compasses .

Presentation To Bro. J. D. Langton, D.G.D.C.

PRESENTATION TO BRO . J . D . LANGTON , D . G . D . C .

On Wednesday , the 29 th ult ., at tbe Holborn Restaurant , a complimentary dinner was given to Bro . J . D . Langton by his Masonic friends on his being appointed Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies in Grand Lodge and to present him with the clothing of that office as well as that of Grand Standard Bearer in Supreme Grand Chapter , to which he had also been appointed .

The chair was taken by Bro . Alderman Sir Joseph C . Dimsdale , P . G . Treas . having the guest of the evening , Bro . J . D . Langton , on his right . There were present Bros . Edward Terry , H . M . Hobbs , G . F . Marshall , J . R . Cleave , Arthur Monckton , H . Percy Monckton , A . B . Friend , C . W . Mapleton , W . J . Ebbetts George Godwin , and Gordon Smith .

Letters of regret were received from Bros . Alderman Vaughan Morgan Stanley J . Attenborough , Fred . West , J . M . McLeod ( Sec . R . M I . for Boys ) , and many others . The usual loyal toasts were proposed by the CHAIRMAN and duly honoured . The toast of the evening , " The Health of Bro . J . D . Langton , " was pro

posed in feeling terms by the CHAIRMAN , and at the conclusion of his speech he presented Bro . Langton with the full Masonic outfit of the two offices in Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter respectively to which he had been appointed , and also a small album containing a list of the names of those who had subscribed , and giving a complete account of the presentation .

Bro . LANGTON responded with much heartiness , and alluded in a few grace , ful words to each one present and the circumstances which had brought them into relations of friendship . The CHAIRMAN next proposed "The Health of Bros . H . M . Hobb and Gordon Smith , " who had been respectively Chairman and Secretary of the Committee which had organised the presentation .

This was briefly responded to , Bro . GORDON SMITH concluding his remarks by proposing " The Health of the Chairman of the evening , Bro . Sir Joseph Dimsdale , " and expressing the pleasure which all present felt that they had such a Chairman to carry out the finishing part of the work of presentation . Bro . Sir J OSEPH DIMSDALE having returned very cordial thanks , the business of the evening was brought to a conclusion .

Masonic Sermon In Oswaldtwistle Church.

MASONIC SERMON IN OSWALDTWISTLE CHURCH .

A Masonic service was recently held in St . Paul's Church , Oswaldtwistle , in aid of the East Lancashire Systematic Masonic Educational and Benevolent Institution . There was a very full attendance of the officers and members of the Leopold Lodge , No . 1775 , and of visiting brethren from the lodges in Accrington , Haslingden , Blackburn , Darwen , Newchurch , and other towns in the

province , and a dispensation to wear Craft Masonic clothing having been granted by Bro . Col . Le Gendre N . Starkie , Prov . G . Master East Lancashire , the church was crowded . The service was well rendered , and the following sermon on the well-known text from ist Peter c . 2 v . 17 , "Honour all men , love the brotherhood , fear God , honour the King , " was preached by Bro . the Rev . W . G . P ROCTOR , who said :

I conceive that I cannot better occupy the time I have at my disposal this afternoon , when we are met in God's house as members of an Order which holds a very important position , not only here in England , but in all parts of the civilised world , than by explaining to this congregation , so far as I have the ability and the power to do , the origin , the principles , and the objects of Freemasonry . It is an institution so ancient that it is impossible to trace its beginning with perfect

accuracy . Some great authorities say that it is coeval with the world s history , others date it from the time of Methuselah , others to the days of Noah , and others claim the great pyramid as the first Masonic temple , when the secrets of our divine Order were first revealed . However this may b : —and there are good grounds for this , for the usages and customs amongst Masons have ever corresponded with those of the ancient Egyptians—there can be no doubt whatever

that Masonry goes back to the time before the building of Solomon ' s Temp le at Jerusalem , when the number and the variety of the workmen employed rendered it needful to adopt some means by which they could be classified and recognised , and also recognise each other , and it is an undoubted fact , to which I am able to bear my personal witness , tbat tbe signs , symbols , and trade marks which I have myself seen in the foundation-stones of the ancient walls of Jerusalem are

identical with those we now recognise and employ , though we have turned them to another account . Thus , to go no further back , Masonry has a history of 3 ° years . I now come to speak of its principles . They are essentially relig ious--if t ' . ey were not I should not be standing in this place this afternoon . No institution outside the Church of Christ can claim a more solid foundation than that on which Freemasonry rests , viz ., the practice of everv moral and social virtue . Every character , figure , and emblem employed has a moral significance , and is

intended to incuclate the practice of virtue in all its genuine professors . It " been called the religion * of daily life and of common sense , and cannot be bctw described than in words with which we allegory and illustrated by symbols . " Its first imperative condition of mew ' ship is the acknowledgment of the Great Architect of the Universe , the on living and true God , the creator of all things , visible and invisible , " in whom w live and move and have our being . " No man can be admitted into our Ord without making a solemn declaration of these fundamental articles of our , J viz ., the being of God , the immortality of the soul , a future state of rewards a