The New Masonic Hall, Leeds.

the new movement they must increase their numbers . How was it to be done ? They were not permitted to solicit recruits to their Order it was true , yet he thought by exemplifying in their own lives and conduct the great Masonic principles -that they had one God for their Father and that all men were their brothers—they might indirectly bring about the accomplishment of their purpose . Let them be good citizens , and avoid in their lodges

all topics ot discussion which were forbidden . Then there were their Charitable Institutions , which , though they bore noble testimony to the character of the Institution , yet , even they were not to his ( the speaker ' s ) mind the best inducement to offer ; they could have and exhibit higher testimony—not Charity , not social position , but individual character and conduct ; upright and fearless lives . They must have a tongue which refuses to utter unkind

thoug hts ; an eye which flashes with indignation at wrong or injustice but which melts with pity at misfortune or affliction ; a hand which shrinks from contact with dishonour , but is firm to hold and support a falling brother . Thus would they attract men into their midst . By kindly acts , unselfish thoughts they might soften the troubles which abound within their reach and thus spread an influence for good which , while it tended to make

them better men and truer children of the loving Father , would illustrate in the best possible way the principles of their Order . By such means would he induce recruits to join their ranks . Bro . Wilson , whose reception was of the kindest and most enthusiastic character , concluded by thanking them for the hearty way in which the toast had been received . » - The next toast was "Success to the New Masonic Hall . " In proposing

this , Bro . W ILSON went into a financial statement as to the position of the company , from which it appeared that of the proposed capital of ; £ 10 , 000 , up to that meeting only £ 8000 had been raised . Bro . Wilson told them that he had busied himself that afternoon in endeavouring to induce lodges and brethren to take up the remaining ^ 2000 , and that he had met with considerable success , so much so that he had strong reason to hope that

before they parted that night the remaining capital would be subscribed . To g ive their tenants such enhanced Masonic comforts and conveniences as the new hall offered , necessarily meant increased rents , yet the directors were anxious that no pressure which could be absolutely avoided should be used and if the requisite capital could be raised it would make their task easier . Bro . Wilson then announced names of individuals and lodges who

guaranteed to take up shares amounting to an additional sum of £ 1725 and thought he was justified , thoroughly justified , in proposing success to the undertaking , to its promoters , its tenants and all concerned . This was drunk heartily , and Bro . CHARLES SCRIVEN , who has acted as honorary secretary from the inception of the scheme , replied . He said that the directors from the first confidently believed that the whole capital sum

would be taken up , and after the strong appeal which had been made that night he could not believe it possible they would go home and leave a deficit ol , £ 275- Should the full amount be subscribed it would be a credit to Masonry in Leeds . The accommodation in the new hall would , he hoped , give complete satisfaction and all the comfort they could desire . The expenditure , as is usually the case , had exceeded the total which they

anticipated , but he thought all the additions had been valuable and some even essential . He was much obliged to them for so kindly recognising his services , and in the name of his fellow directors he cordially thanked them . " The Visitors " was proposed in eloquent terms by Bro . J . N . HART , W . M . of Philanthropic , the oldest of the six tenant lodges . He said how gratified they , the W . Ms , and brethren of the six lodges , had been to

receive and welcome so many friends from all parts of the province and from beyond—men of very high posi'ion and standing in Freemasonry . The presence of these brethren had added much to the brilliancy of the ceremony that afternoon . In the name of all the tenant lodges , therefore , he offered to one and all a real , genuine , Yorkshire welcome . With the toast he would associate the name of Bro . Robert Hudson , P . G . S . B ., Prov . G . Secretary for Durham .

Bro . HUDSON expressed his pleasure at being present on this most interesting occasion . He explained how close an association had for a long time existed between his province ( Durham ) and the two Yorkshires in the working of Charitable matters ; that he was proud , as a Yorkshireman , to be amongst them to meet old friends and make new ones . By such means the path through life was made more pleasant , and its happy memo . ies were largely increased .

Previous to proposing the last item on the list , the W . DEPUTY announced that the lull capital sum of , £ 10 , 000 had now been taken up , and that the Directors , thus assured of the confidence of their brethren , would be repaid for the past and encouraged for the future . This was received with great applause . The T yler ' s toast closed the proceedings .

A most interesting and delightful musical programme formed not the least enjoyable portion of the evening . To this Bro . Tom Child contributed " The' Sailor ' s Grave , " Bro . H . Blackie gave " The Bandolero , " whilst Bro . Wm . Cockeil > ne sang "Hjbrias the Cretan . " All these bielhren are well known in Leeds musical as well as Masonic circles , and

l j * F efforts were thoroughly appreciated . Some part songs , " Of all the Ants , " "As the Moments Roll , " Sec , were also given , in which the brethren named were assisted by Bros . E . Richardson , F . Bagshawe , and C . Rhodes . ' Bro . F . H . Ccckulvne , athorough accompanyist , ptesided at the piano .

Ihe whole of the day ' s proceedings passed harmoniously and happily , and the W . Ms , of the six tenant lodges are to be congratulated upon the complete success which crowned their praiseworthy ellorts to interest and entertain thtir numerous visitors .

Visit Of The Strong Man Lodge, No. 45, To Godstone.

VISIT OF THE STRONG MAN LODGE , No . 45 , TO GODSTONE .

. " , 'he pleasant little village of Godstone . Cyclists know it well , and Yit \ K m ? 'cr ( . ar is P " ed up after a 20 miles' spin from town . Quite a typical ' , English village , prelty much the same as it was hundreds of years ago of th ? °° ^ ueen Bc 3 S used t 0 P " P the ancient hostelry which stood in front the village green , with a duck pond skirting the main road and the green fetching away beyond .

villa s ' ' * summer day with just a gentle breeze at frequent intervals . The nage policeman stands near the pond and broods of fine Surrey chickens , heed-¦ es-s ot their fut . ye , revel in sunshin ... Lodee " ! . *" ' le cond , t * ons und < -r which a contingent of the Strong Man Prom ' . A u " 45 > made their entry to Godstone on Wednesday , the 31 st ult . pted ° y that fraternal feeling which pervades the lodge , a number of the

Visit Of The Strong Man Lodge, No. 45, To Godstone.

brethren who reside in or near this locality , whom we generally designate the " Surrey Team , " issued an invitation to the remaining members of the lodge to come down and visit them on their native heath . An elaborate programme was submitted , which ran as follows : Saloon from Cannon-street to Oxted , driving from Oxted to . Godstone through the pleasant Surrey lanes , luncheon at the ancient hostelry , a cricket match ( the two teamsbeingconfined to Mason . ) in the afternoon , concluding with a dinner and a drive back to Oxted .

About 15 members were able to avail themselves of this invitation . Bros . E . M . Hall and Dr . Leslie took them under their wing at Cannon-street Station , never losing sight of them till good-byes were exchanged at the same spot 12 hours later . The day was a complete success in every detail . The host , himself a worthy Mason , had spared no effort to carry out the wishes of the 'inviting brethren , and no sooner had they settled in the banqueting hall , with its big oak rafters , illuminated in gold with early English texts setting forth the desire that " good digestion might wait on appetite , " then we realised that we were truly partaking of a feast of fraternal friendship .

Luncheon over , the serious business of the day began . As stated , the team was to be confined entirely to Masons , and Masonry is not generally considered one of the fundamental qualifications for a good cricketer . However , the game went merrily along , the ground in the middle of the village green was in splendid condition , and we were told that , not to be behind the times , , £ 100 had recently been expended in bringing it up to the " pitch " of perfection .

The captain of the visiting brethren—Bro . Heaton , Org . 45 —won the toss , and sent his team to the wicket . The opening was somewhat disastrous , but a grand stand was made by Bros . Heaton ( 50 ) and Ward ( 43 ) . The "tail" did not •are so well , and the W . M ., Bro . J . Briggs , from his wicket saw three of the respected members of his lodge out in three successive balls , Bro . Ellis

performing the hat trick . For the home team Bros . J . Hall , J . George-Powell ( captain of the home team , and unsparing in his energies to promote general happiness ) , and Payne played excellent cricket . We ought also to mention the wicketkeeping of Bros . Ockelford and Walter , the bowling of Bro . Ward , and a onehanded catch by Bro . Heaton excited a well-deserved round of applause . The scores were as follows :

VISITORS . Mills , W . G ., b J . George-Powell o Burgess , T ., b J . Hall 2 Ward , G . F ., run out 43 Hall , E . M ., bj . Hall o Heaton , S . W ., b W . H . Walter ... 50 Ockelford , T ., b W . H . Walter ... o Briggs , J ., not out 20 Briggs , W ., st Walter , b G . Ellis 3 Leslie , Dr ., b G . Ellis o Woodman , E . P ., b G . Ellis o Vidler , E . J ., run out o Extras 4 Total , 122

HOME TKAM . Hall , J ., b Heaton 11 Walter , W . H ., b Ward 8 Hall , E . M ., c and b Heaton 1 Leslie , Dr ., b Ward o George-Powell , J ., c and b Heaton 10 Hall , A ., b Heaton 3 Bristowe , F ., b Ward : 3 Nightingale , C , b Heaton 1 Ellis , G ., b Ward 5 Hall , B ., b Ward o Payne , S . J ., not out 40 Selmes , J ., run out ..,.. o Extras 4 Total 86

The pavilion was well stocked with the essential creature comforts . We settled down to dinner about six . The menu was very tastefully got up , and an engraving of the Hotel " Ye Claytone" rendered it a charming souvenir . The dinner was worthy of the West-end of our Metropolis , and with happy speeches and pleasant music a perfect evening was spent .

" The Health of the King was received with loyal enthusiasm , and " The Rulers of the Craft" met with ample justice . Words ot warm welcome and hearty thanks were freely exchanged , and with Bro . Bristowe , J . W ., in the chair , the very personification of kindness and geniality , supported by Bro . Arthur Hall , J . D . in the vice-chair , all that should have been said was said , and that which

should not have been said was left unsaid . The brethren who had the privilege of seeing Bro . Bristowe preside on the above day will look forward to the time when he occupies a similar position in the lodge . It was a day not to be for . gotten , and an occasion which will tend to bind together more closely the members of the lodge , a lodge in which brotherly love has long been the do . ninant note .

Dedication Of A Masonic Temple At Ilfracombe.

DEDICATION OF A MASONIC TEMPLE AT ILFRACOMBE .

The Craft in general and the Province of Devon in particular may , indeed , well be proud of , and congratulations be accorded to , the brethren of Lodge Concord , No . 1351 , who by their individual exertions and generosity have provided such a living monument . The Temple was dedicated some time since by Bro . G . C . Davie , P . A . G . D . C . England , Dep . Prov . Grand Master , assisted by Bros . F . B . Westlake , P . S . G . W . ; Rev . T . RusseJI , P . P . J . G . W . , * Rev . R . W . J . Smart , P . P . G . Chap . ; and John Stacker , Prov . G . Sec ; and a large number of the brethren of the lodge and visiting brethren numbering about 80 .

The beautiful ceremony was carried out in a most impressive and perfect manner . The Temple is situate in the Northfield-road , and its front of B ith stone ashlar work is classic in design , with the five orders of architecture inter , mixed . The four main columns supporting the entablature arc of the Tuscan and Doric orders , and the six smaller columns , which flank the doorway and windows , are of Ionic , Corinthian , and Composite orders . In the tympanum of the massive moulded pediment is carved the emblem of the square and compass , with date of erection .

The lodge is entered by a lobby with black and tesselated pivemsnt . A large ante-room is inside the front hall , from which the lodge is entered by two elaborately-decorated doors , whose top panels contain , in faithful colours , the coatsof-arms of Devon and 1 Ifracombe . The ceiling , which is arched and divided into panels , is of a pretty shade of sky blue , on which are represented the constellations of the zodiac , while in the triangular panels near the dome are the northern crown , tlerschell ' s telescope , Medusa ' s head , and the Dolphin constellation . In the east end of the lodge are depicted Saturn , Jupiter , Mars , Venus , and Mercury .

The walls are surmounted by a large cornice , neatly painted in cream , blue , and salmon colours . The frieze underneath is ornamented with various Masonic emblems . Around the lodge is a dado in red , with black panel lines , and fluted uprights dividing same . In the centre of each panel , in blue and black , are tastefully painted the insignias of the respective offices . In the ^ east of the handsome Temple is an elaborate representation , in gold , of the rising sun , while in the south it is at its meridian , and setting in the west .

The decorations of the temple , which are of a high order , were designed and executed by Bro . J . C . Clarke P . M . 1351 , and the whole work reflects on . him the greatest credit . He has exhibited in it much skill and ability . The portraits of the Past Masters hung around the walls were the gift of Bro . E . D . Perceval . The beautiful carving of the front is the work of l ! ro . J , P . Huxtablc , I . G . 1351 , and the richly ornamented capitals are evidence of his delicate and expert workmanship . The foundation-stone of the temple bears the inscription that it was laid by Bro . G . C . Divie , P . M ., P . A . G . D . C . Eng ., on May loth , 1899 , daring the office of Bro . A . H . Fisher , W . M . * *