Freemasonry In Western Australia.

He according ly was invited and undertook thc duty , discharging it , so far as wc know , to the entire satisfaction of our West Australian brethren . Under these circumstances , and especially as the District Grand Master—Bro . the Hon . | OllN A . WRIGHT

—look no part in the proceedings , it would have been no more than courteous on the part of the District authorities had they requested the Governor—who , as a Past Grand Warden of Eno-land , ranks next in order of precedence after thc District

Grand , Master—to have consecrated a building of which he had laid the lirst stone . Instead of this being done , the duty of consecrating thc hall and dedicating it to the purposes of Freemasonry was entrusted to Bro . the Hon . DANIEL K . CONGUON ,

Dep . Dist . ( i . Master , who was assisted in his task b y Bro . the Rig ht Rev . the Bishop of PERTH , Past G . Chaplain of England , assist , ( i . Chaplain ; Bro . IL P . WILSON , Dist . G . D . of C . ; Brc HrssKY , Dist . G . Sec ; and Bro . Major

STRICKLANDwho commanded the \\ est Australian troops that visited England at the Queen ' s Diamond Jubilee—the then W . Master of St . John ' s Lodge , No . 4 85 . The ceremony took place on the 30 U 1 December last , and passed off most successfully , all the

lodges on the roll of the District ( irand Lodge ( E . C . ) being well and numerously represented , while there was also a very large attendance of members of the Scottish and Irish Constitutions , the former being headed by their District Grand Master , Bro .

the Rev . G . E . ROWE , who was accompanied by several of lhe officers of his District Grand Lodge . But we are persuaded that the dignity of the proceedings would have been immensely increased had the duties of Consecratintr officer been entrusted to

the Governor of the Colony , who , as we have said , i . s the representative of her Majesty , and , as such , the representative of the illustrious patron of English Freemasonry . To this may be added the further reason—tin * cogency of which may not be

denied—that Bro . Sir G . SMITH , during the period of his residence in the Colony , has exhibited the greatest interest in the proceedings of lhe Craft . To him personally , therefore , as

well as to hini in his official and Masonic capacity , it would have been well if tht : e * ourtcsy of inviting him lo preside on so auspicious an occasion had been extended .

As regards lhe Hall in Peril ) , the dedication of which has proved the innocent cause of tbe difference now existing between Bro . Sir G . SMITH and the local Craft , a correspondent describes il as a building of which any city might well proud , lt is

admirably shunted in close proximity to the " town Mall and Government Offices and has been erected at a cost of some £ 14 , 000 . It is intended to be used for ordinary Masonic purposes and as a Club house , and hence it is both spacious and commodious .

In the basement there is ample cellarage and store accommodation . On the ground lloor are the rooms for the Masonic Club , elaboratel y and comfortabl y furnished , where visitors will always meet with lhe heartiest of welcomes . These rooms include a

smoking room , billiard , card , and reading rooms , & c , and one for the reception of guests who are not members of the Order . On the lirst lloor are the lodge rooms—the largest of which is capable of sealing 600 and has been constructed with a view to

accommodating District Grand Lodge—with the necessary dressing and anterooms and a large banqueting hall . In short , it is in every way adapted for the purposes for which il has been erected , and we coimratulate our West

Australian brethren on the possession of so handsome and so valuable and commodious a building . We trust also that the soreness of feeling which appears to have arisen out of the circumstances we have just mentioned will soon pass away , and

that in the enjoyment of such excellent quarters tin * brethren will recover the genuine feelings which it is lhe duty of Masons to entertain towards each other and which for a brief time would seem to have been lost .

Consecration Of The Alfred Newton Lodge , No 2686.

CONSECRATION OF THE ALFRED NEWTON LODGE , No 2686 .

T ) e r . un . ber of class lodges in thc M tr . ipolis -which have bi-ei recently ste . idily incie . > s ** ig—received a fur her and v-Vw vUe adliuon on the 5 th inst . by the coiuecia ion of the Alfred N . wton LVg * , No . jOS 6 , at the Chelsea Town Hall . Tl . c new lodge L c ' osely identified with the commercial enter-

Consecration Of The Alfred Newton Lodge , No 2686.

prise known as Harrod ' s Stores , and the name chosen is that of the first VVorshipful Master , Bro . Alderman J . Newton . A large and distinguished company of brethren assembled to witness the interesting ceremony , including many influential members of the Corporation . Owing to the excellent arrar gements made , the whole proceedings passed off without a hitch , and re flee * e J the highest credit upon all concerned . An interesting novelty was the presentation to each of the Consecrating Officers of a handsome silver

vase bearing a suitable inscription . The Consecrating Officer , Bro . Edward Letchworth , Grand Secretary , was assisted by Bros . Sir John B . Monckton , P . G . W ., as S . W . ; Sir R . Hanson , Bart ., M . P ., P . G . W ., as J . W . ; Thos . Fenn , P . G . W ., as Chap , ( undertaking the duties at very short notice , in the absence of Bro . Rev . R J . Simpson , P . G . Chap . ); Frank Richardson , P . G . D ., as D . C . , * and J . Stephens , D . G . D . C , as I . G .

The founders of the new lodge are Bros . Alderman A . J . Newton , J . P ., D . I .., P . M . 2347 ; James Bailey , M . P ., P . M . 1974 ; Herbert Bennett , 1261 ; F . H . Harvey-Samuel , 2108 ; A . J . Naughton , 2581 ; D . F . Norrington , 1 S 91 ; Ernest J . Rix , 1 S 91 ; Arthur Strutt , 1 S 91 ; T . G . Heighington , 228 ; VV . B . Abbott , P . M . 59 ; A . E . Catchpole , 2310 ; H . ] . Thwaites , 1 S 91 ; J . P . Naughtor , 15 S 5 ; W . H . Eardley , 13 ( 0 ; j . VV .

J'ipe , 15 S 5 ; Carlyle Forrester , 103 ( I . C . ); A . G . Howell , 2581 ; G . C . E . Gilardi , 1 S 91 ; M . J . Jessop , P . M . 1261 and 2265 ; Benj . Robinson , 564 . P . P . G . P . Worcester ; C . Garton , W . M . 192 ; Capt . T . W . Heath , P . M . 1768 and 1642 ; R . 1 . Pearce , P . M . 1194 ; J . J . Thomas , P . M . 753 , 21 5 , and 2421 , P . P . G . T . Bucks , P . G . S ' . d . Br . ; and John Brock , P . M . 299 . P P . S . G . D . Kent . The visitors included :

Bros . Alderman Vaughan Morgan , G . Treas . ; Sir Joseph Dimsdale , P . G . Treas . ; W . j . Mason , V .-Pres . Board of Gen . Purps . ; W . Vincent , G . Std . Br . ; H . Sadler , G . Tyler ; Alderman Sir R . Hargreaves Rogers , P . M . 2249 ; J . Adams , P . P . G D . C . Middx . ; W . I " . Buxton , P . P . G . Supt . of Works ; Alderman S . Green , Alderman Strong , J . W . Burgess , P . P . G . D . ; W . Bates , P . M . ; Col . BoydC . B . ; H . ] . Thomas , P . M . ; [ . H . Dimsdale , W . M . 2651 , •Orlton

, Cooper , P . M . ; H . Massey , P . M . ¦ J . E . Allen , 382 ; J . L . Apsey , P . M . 534 H . C . Arthur , 2243 ; A . R . Bocock , 1481 * , J . Boyton , S . D . 1426 ; Thomas Caseley , P . M .: Dr . Maitland CofTin , S . W . 2501 ; H . S . Cutton , P . G . Stwd . ; G . Ellard , P . P . G . D . C . ; Dr . A . Godwin , 4 ; H . Green , 1196 ; G . Honour , 1559 ; I . ' ames , 254 ; P . Larner , Prov . G . Supt . of Works Herts ; T . Robinson ,

P . P . G P .: R . E . F . Seton , P . M . 1965 •T . Kington , P . M . 193 H . l . a / .-rus , 185 ; J . Lewi * - - , P . M . i < 58 t ; W . Ramsey , P . P . G . D . Essex ; J . Richmond 2 * 2 ; R . Sandland , 2394 ; W . Skilton , 2001 ,- Rev . C . ' ( . Smith , 51 . A ., W . M . 2648 ; W . J . Stratton , P . M . 1425 ; Dr . Weldon , P . M . ; L . Westwood , 2246 ; Jubal Webb , P . M . ; W . Whiting , P . M . 22 ; R . H . Williams , P . P . G . D . ; L . Wolff , 1839 ; and W . W . Lee , P . M . ; and others . in

I The G . Oflicers entered the lod ^ e room procession , lodge was opened and a hymn sung . The CONSECRATINI * OITICEK , addressing the brethren on the nature of : lhe meeting , said : VVe are met together this afternoon for an object which canr . ot fail to enlist the warmest sympathy of all present . It is for the

purpose of starting into existence a new Iodge which will hereafter be known as I the Alfred Newton Lodge . It is composed , I believe , to a great extent of those who are associated together in a very important commercial enterprise , and 1 sincerely trust lhat the new lodge may achieve all the objects the founders have in view . That it may have before it a very successful career is , 1 am sure , the wish of all present .

The warrant was read by the D . C , and the founders signified their approval of the officers named . An excellent oration was then delivered by Bro . Tnos . PENN , P . G . W ., acting Chaplain , on the nature and principles of Freemasonry . I An anthem— " Behold how good and joyful a thing it is " —was sung , j and the new lodge was solemnly dedicated and constituted with the usual ceremonial .

I The VV . M . designate , Bro . Alderman Alfred Newton , was installed by , the Grand Secr-tan * , and the felbwing officers were invested ( with the exception of Bro . J . Biiley , M . P ., who was unable to be present ) : Bros . J . J . Thomas P . G . S . B ., acting I P . M . ; A . J . Naughton , S . VV . ; D . I * . Norrington , J . VV . ; James Bailey , M . P ., Treas . ; T . Casely , Sec . ; A .

Strutt , SD . ; E . J . Rix , J . D . ; H . J . Thwaites , I . G . ; W . B . Abbott , D . C ; T . J . Hcighington , J . P . Naughton , A . E . Catchpole , and C . Forrester , Stwds . ; and VV . Ellis , Tyler . The Consecrating Officers were unanimously elected hon . members , a compliment for which the GRAND SECRETARY returned thanks on behalf of himself and colleagues .

A long list of candidates were proposed for initiation and joining , the first being the son of the VVorshipful Master , who will be the first initiate I of lhe lodge . 1 A Committee was elected to frame the by-laws , and the lodge w : is

closed . j An excellent and wall-served banquet was folio ved by the customary toast hit . In rising to propose the first toast , the WoRsmi'i'in , MASTER said there

was a heavy programme provided for their entertainment , and as they were ¦ all accustomed to hearing speeches , he felt satisfied he should best study their I comfort by suggesting that the speeches should be commendably brief . l £ I first toast was one invariably submitted to Masons— " The Queen and the Craft "—lhe Oueen , under whose beneficent sway , the Craft so continually

prospers . "H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., " was next given by the WoRsiiii'i 1 1 . MASTER , who alluded to the great and abiding interest taken by his Koyal Highness in their Order . ., said

The WOKSIIIITI - I , MASTER proposed "The Grand Officers , " and he dej-ired to associate with it the name of Bro . T . Fenn , P . G . W ., to whom they were deeply indebted for having , at short notice , undertaken the duties of Chaplain . The admirable and careful way in which those duties wer * performed must have impressed all the brethren . .

liro . T . FENN , P . G . W ., in response , said it was a very unexpc "' honour , as his sup-. rior eifficer ( Sir J . Monckton ) sat on his left , but ^ accepted it with pleasure . There was an old saying and a true one—¦'_ ** '"'' veriias— and that had forced him to make a confession . He was , in la ' an impostor , having assumed the character of a Grand Chaplain decke ti Y for the occasion . If , however , he had performed thc duties to their sa