Consecration Of The Hutchinson Chapter, No. 381, At Darwen.

The following oration was delivered by Comp . the Rev . E . BIGOI : B AGOT , I . L . B ., P . G . S . N .: He said that the zeal and devotion of the Masonic body in that town was crowned by the auspicious solemnities of this consecration , and the principles which animated the Craft had received an important extension and advancement . Tne companions whose exertions and loyalty had reared another edifice of Masonry were to be heartily congratulated on the termination of their libours , and

commended for their honourable and upright purpose . The great and abiding principles which filled the hearts and guided the actions of Freemasons in every quarter of the globe were being gradually recognised as most important and salutary . In an age when morality was depreciated , when the public prints contained as a large measure of their contents the miserable details of crime , greed , lust , and avarice ; when Society appeared to be moving on the edge of a social revolution ; when order , decency , reverence , or respect for any institution or person , however great or sacred , is utterly scouted , it is not the time to set at nought a great Society which still as throughout many generations sets forth the beauty , power , and liberty of

discipline , obedience , and subordination . Masonry was a great guarantee for social order and the due equilibrium of the social fabric . There was an old-fashioned method among preachers of dividing their discourses into three heads . It was , no doubt , a matter of thankfulness to many that the hydro-headed monster had only three heads . However , that mysterious number was a symbol of reverence and dignity in all the ceremonies of the Craft ; and he would venture to divide his brief remarks into three heads , and remind them of the

individuality of Masonry ; its universal adaptability ; and its moral leaching . 1 st . —The history of mankind , religious or secular , resolves itself ultimately into the history of a few individuals . Great movements have never been wrought by the multitude , always by the individual . All art , all knowledge , all science , all discovery has , as a rule , come from the few . The history of Art , Science , and Literature is summed up severally in a score of names , and so with great philanthropic or benevolent movements . Men need to be taught the power and

force of their own individuality , that they are free agents , and not autometa , that each man has the power of rising up and doing some great and noble work in life , of purifying his own spirit , and ennobling his own character . The history of Masonry abounds with illustrations of this . Solomon the great King of Israel , although his life was tarnished , and the lustre of high career stained with earthly dross , yet resolutely set himself to build a Temple to the Most High , and inspired in every age the loyalty , reverence , and devotion which have made men to erect

sacred shrines where humanity might draw to God . Hiram , King of Tyre , brought the materials for the great and noble work , and thousands of earnest hearts have since provided the ways and means for the erection of places to worship the Great Father of His People . Hiram Abiff lost his life through his unshaken devotion to the cause of honour and duty , and thousands have remembered his courage and fidelity and have kept unsullied the glory of an honourable career . The influence of individuals has always been the mightiest to mould and rule the

times in which they lived . The teachings and principles of Masonry fostered this spirit and produced a generous rivalry and healthy emulation in works of Charity and universal benefit . In the second place there was a universal adaptability in the Craft which fitted in with all the experience of mankind and which engendered and promoted true progress . There are tides in the affairs of men and nations . Humanity is an ocean which ebbs and Hows and ebbs again , and not a monotonous river tunning ceaselessly one way . There is a periodicity in the fortunes of

individuals and peoples as in the movements of the planets and of the planetary systems . Fashions , opinions , theories of science , philosophy , and government move like storm-winds , in spiral curves . The theories and principles of Masonry suit every age and every era . They brush aside the surface distinctions which separate men , and touch the central identities in which they are all alike . They appeal to the universally diffused characteristics of human nature which are always the same—the common hopes , fears , joys , wants , sorrows ,

and aspirations which belong to man as man , and beat within the heart of king and slave , peer and peasant , philosopher and Boer : " Pagan suckled in a creed outworn , " or Englishman surrounded with all the lights of latest civilisation . 3 rdly—The moral teaching of Masonry made it an important factor in the government of nations . There were common objections urged against us as a body . We were Usually styled a very silly and conceited set of men ; fond of gaudy clothing , and as eager to display our clothes and jewels as a gushing school-girl was

to parade a new hat among her companions . We were also denominated a very selfish class , spending our time in one course of interminable festivities ; parading the streets during the daytime in useless and unmeaning garb , and running into the small hours of the morning at the banqueting chambers , while our wives and children were gazing at home with weeping eyes , at an empty larder . But we are further looked upon as a very wicked class . We were supposed to hold secret councils for the destruction of the social fabric , and the total abolition of the Ten

Commandments . We were pointed out as the original founders of the Order ( immortalised by one of our grandest novelists ) , whose motto for conduct and action was summed up in these lines—My brothers , be chaste , till you ' re tempted ; When sober , be wise and discreet ; And humble your bodies with fastinir Whenever you ' ve nothing to eat .

All Masons could afford placidly to smife at these crude and ignorant criticisms , knowing that every symbol , token , and sign in a Masonic chapter had an express and real meaning and significance , and were intended to be the exponents of high and ennobling principles . The larger portion of the wealth , intelligence , and culture of the land were connected with the Craft . The beneficent and salutary principles which permeated all its work , and the magnificent Institutions of

Masonry were the secret and method of its success , and the powerful magnet which attracted to its ranks all grades of society and sectional characteristics of mankind from the future King of England to the humblest subject of the Queen . He trusted that Arch Masonry would flourish in that town , and that its principles of valour , fidelity , and humanity would be so exemplified in the lives of all the members of that chapter , that Darwen would be compelled to own that they were the noblest ornaments that walked her streets .

lhe whole of the ceremony was beautifully rendered , and was very impressive . After the consecration ceremony , Comp . J . H . Sillitoc installed Comps . J . H . Wraith , as M . E . Z . ; C . H . Woods , as H . ; and S . H . Shorrock , as J . ; after which Comp . A . H . Jelferis invested the following officers Comps . J . Kawlinson , 'S . E . ; Thos . Roberts , S . N . ; R . H . Eccles , Treas . ; \ V . G . Thackeray , P . S . ; | . Orrell , 1 st A . S . ; J . G . Cook , 2 nd A . S . ; and John Booth , P . Z ., P . P . G . P . S ., D . C .

In addition to the above names , the following were founders of the chapter : Comps . T , Grime , P . Z . ; W . Forrest , M . E . Z . ; Rev . W . G . Proctor , B . A ., J . Maisden , and G . Lecming . There are 15 candidates proposed to be exalted , so that there is every prospect of the chapter being very successful . SubsDquently a banquet was held in the Masonic Rooms , at which Comp . Wraith presided , supported by Colonel Starkie , Prov . Grand Supt . ; Comps . J . H . Sillitoc , Prov . G . I I . ; A . II . Jefl ' eris , I ' . G . J . ; John Cliad-

Consecration Of The Hutchinson Chapter, No. 381, At Darwen.

wick , P . G . S . E . ; the Rev . E . Bigos-Btg'ot , P . G . N . ; James Newton , P . G . A . S . E . ; and others . The usual loyal and other toasts were given and replied to in appropriate terms . One unique toast is worthy of mention . It was , "To four Grandsons of the late Bro . Hutchinson , P . M ., " after whom the chapter is named and who were all present on this occasion .

All the arrangements of the toast list were carried out under the supervision of Comp . Major John Booth , P . Z ., P . P . G . Soj ., as D . of C , in the most brilliant manner .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Buckinghamshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF BUCKINGHAMSHIRE .

The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held at the Cock Hotel , Stony Stratford , on Thursday , the 29 th ult . The Prov . G . Master , Bro . the Rev . Studholme Brownrigg , assisted by Bro . C . F . Matier , P . G . W ., Grand Secretary , acting as D . P . G . M ., having opened Prov . Grand Lodge , the PROV . GRAND SECRETARY read the minutes , also letters of apology for non-attendance from several brethren .

Bro . T . Taylor , P . G . Std . Br ., P . P . S . G . W ., was then presented and installed as D . P . G . M . The Prov . Grand Master then appointed and invested his officers for the

ensuing year as follows : Bro . G . H . Charsley ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ E . Revill ... ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ J . K , Bowen ... ... ... ... Prov . G . M . O . „ S . L . Kilp in ... ... ... ... Prov . S . G . O .

„ H . King ... ... ... ... Prov . J . L .. U . „ Rev . F . R . Harnett ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ J . Williams , P . G . S . B . ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ J . R . Wilian , P . G . I . G . ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ A . Morcom ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ W . Woollett ... ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D .

„ A . Crowhurst ... ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . * „ H . Thody ... ... ... ... Prov . G . I . of W . ,, L . Cooper ... ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ A . Turner ... ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ G . H . Sampson ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . t oui

„ . A . \ Y . unggs ... ... ... ... -rov . < J . . ur , „ H . Hippslev ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ H . E . Coffin ... ... ' ... ... Prov . G . I . G . " l- ' lVwp ' -Prov . G . Stwd ,. .. 1 ' . W . Webb ... ... ... ... >

All business being ended Prov . Grand Lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to the banquet , provided by the host , Bro . E . Revill .

Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND .

This ancient and vigorous Grand Lodge has rr : adc rapid progress ul late years , since the election of my old tnend , Bro . D . Murray Lyon , as Grand Secretary . Us present condition is very satisfactory , and the " Fund of Scottish Masonic Benevolence " is rapidly becoming worthy of such an influential organisation .

The Proceedings , as with England , are issued quarterly , No . 1 of each year containing the roll of lodges , provinces , Sec , to date , with reports o ( Provincial Grand Masters , and other interesting information . The Grand Secretary is an adept at arranging and obtaining many valuable particulars concerning Scottish Freemasonry at home and abroad . Doubtless , if Bro . Lyon had less official work to get through , we should soon have a history of

the Grand Lodge from his facile pen . There are now some 530 lodges on the register , 29 being in the Metropolitan Distrtcl ( Edinburgh ) , 346 in the Provinces , and 155 Abroad , making a total of 530 . The largest province is Ayrshire , with 42 lodges , India ( started in 1 S 46 , with Dr . Burncs as Provincial Grand Master ) coining

next with 38 , Glasgow making a good third , with 34 . New Zealand has three provinces , with a total of 35 lodges , and Queensland is represented by 17 . The remainder abroad are distributed very widely , showing the farreaching influence of the Grand Lodge , which was formed on 30 th November , 1736 , by some 30 odd lodges , some having records dating from the i 6 lh and 17 th centuries .

The first quarterly meeting was held on the 12 th January , 1737 , presided over by William St . Clair , of Roslin , whose ancestors were protectors 01 the Craft from early in the 17 th century . Editions of the laws and rcgulat ' " * have been published in the years 1836 , 1848 , 1863 , 1866 , 1 S 68 , 1 S 71 , ' 87-h 1879 , 1881 , and 1 S 86 , the last-mentioned being far in advance of its predecessors as respects arrangement and suitable laws . f

The " Book of Constitutions" provides that confirmation of minutes implies that the ,-es gestoe of a previous meeting had been correctly recorded , and not that the questions discussed and disposed of at such former meeting could be opened up at the succeeding one , when the minutes were rcau , thus differing from England . The Mark is recognised but not the Koy ^ Arch , lhe reverse being the case in this country . Although the latter cc'C "

mony is not actually recognised it virtuall y is , Rule 170 providing thai ^ Mark can only be conferred on Master Masons " in the presence of tnw who have taken the step either in a lodge , or chapter , entitled to grant it-The totally blind and the deaf and dumb are inadmissible , but Candida who are mutilated , or minus a limb , arc subject to the descretion of ' ? | k . | vC There were 26 military lodges on the roll from 1747 lo 1856 , which CPasnd In nvi ^ l : > nrl lhnrr » hns l-ii-on nn nmv nnmor : i 1 mn siinre 1 Sj-O . \ i 3 tiiu \\ i ? imivi iitio / llisw uuniui tlllim 3 iii \ i

. .. u ... * ..., iiiyti ; LUI ; II nu -v ^ .- writ :, The Grand Director of Ceremonies has charge of the arrange . inside , and the Grand . Marshal outside of any building in which the ( J ' Lodge may assemble . „ ,, »\ : W . J . HUGU ^ - t The iSu . | edition was printed in Laurie ' s History of that year .