Consecration Of The Alan Lodge, No. 2368, At Alderley.

and Treas . 605 , P . P . G . Treas . ; Joel Foden , VV . M . 1045 ; Thomas W . Rostron , S . W , 1140 ; William Smith , S . W . 1 S 14 ; A . Keymer , 287 and 1030 ; Henry Smith , J . W . 2 S 7 , J . D . io'o ; F . Mark-land ; James B . Gemmell , 1140 ; VV . Dale , 941 ; R . Critchley , 1140 : A . Kinnell , 2156 ; John Jones , P . M . 323 ; and G . S . Smith , P . M ., W . M . 2359 . The musical arrangements were under the direction of Bro . W . H . Maxfield ,

P . G . Org ., assisted by Bros . H . Miller , P . P . G . O . ; S . E . Jupp , P . M . ; and A . S . Kinnell . The lodge was opened by Bro . Thos . Marwood , P . P . S . G . W ., acting D . P . G . M . The PRESIDING OFFICER then addressed the brethren in regard to the object for which they had met together , after which the C HAPLAIN , by his direction , offered

up prayer . The D . of C . then addressed the Consecrating Officer , and , by his direction , arranged the founders of the new lodge in order , and Bro . RICHARD NEWHOUSE , P . G . Sec , P . G . S . E ., read the petition and the warrant which had been granted by the M . W . G . M . authorising the formation of the Alan Lodge , No . 2368 , in answer to the prayer of the petition , and designating Bro . the Hon . Alan Egerton , M . P ., P . M ., P . P . S . G . W ., W . M . designate ; Bro . H . Gordon Small , S . W . ; and Bro . F . W . Markland , J . W .

The CONSECRATING OFFICER enquired of the brethren ranged before him whether they approved of the officers named in the ivarrant , and the brethren having signified their approval in Masonic form , the CHAPLAIN , at the request of the Presiding Officer , gave an impressive oration , exhorting the members of the lodge now consecrated ever to strive and maintain the principles of Charity , and trusted that each of its members would be a faithful exponent of the moral features of which he had reminded them .

The Presiding Officer proceeded to dedicate and constitute the lodge , and an anthem having been sung , The P . G . M . duly constituted the lodge , and the ceremony was brought to a close with the Patriarchal benediction . The Iodge was resumed in the Second Degree .

Bro . the Hon . Alan Egerton , P . M ., W . M . designate , was presented to the Installing Master , Bro . Thos . Marwood , by Bro . G . H . Browne , P . G . D . C , and duly installed first W . M . of the Alan Lodge , and in that capacity was proclaimed and saluted . The working tools were presented by Bro . James Salmon , P . M . 424 , P . P . S . G . D . The W . M . invested his officers for the ensuing year as follows : Bros . H . Gordon

Small , S . W . ; T . W . Markland , J . W . ; A . Lawley , W . M . 1140 , Treas . ; F . Baxter , Sec ; A . Keymer , S . D . ; J . B . Gemmell , | . D . ; W . Urquhart , I . G . ; W . Ramsden , P . M ., P . P . G . D ., D . C ; and M . Aspen , Stwd . ; and they were addressed also by Bro . J . Salmon . The Installing Master presented the W . M . with the warrant and Book of Constitutions . The Prov . Grand Master was

invited to become an honorary member , to which he graciously consented . All other business being at an end , the lodge was closed . The handsome furniture which is of dark polished oak , beautifully carved , is of the highest order , of correct design and finish , and was greatly admired . The officers' jewels also attracted great attention and interest , they being of special design and finish , of solid silver , and were presented to the lodge by the Worshipful Master . The furniture and jewels were manufactured by Bro . George Kenning .

In the evening a banquet was held in the ballroom of the hotel , and was excellently served by Mr . James Bourne , the host . The tables were profusely decorated with roses and other rare flowers and plants , which gave a most brilliant and picturesque appearance . The Worshipful Master of the new lodge presided , and about 50 members and

visitors were present . The healths of " The Queen " and of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., and the rest of the Royal Family , " were loyally pledged . The toast of " The Right Hon . the Earl of Lathom , Deputy Grand Master , and the Officers of Grand Lodge , " was also duly honoured .

The WORSHIPFUL MASTER , in proposing "The P . G . M . of Cheshire , Lord Egerton , " said he believed his brother ( the noble lord ) had done his fair share of work for the province in every way connected with Masonry . He was sure it would give Lord Egerton very great pleasure when he learned that the lodge asked him to become an honorary member . Their Prov . Grand Master was a man full of business , but no amount of business had been able to keep him from taking part in the philanthropic work of Masonry . The toast was very cordially pledged .

The J UNIOR WARDEN submitted " His Honour Judge Sir Horatio Lloyd , D . P . G . M ., and The Prov . Grand Officers , Present and Past . " Bro . Col . WILKINSON , P . S . G . W ., acknowledged the toast . He said he sincerely hoped that the new lodge would be most successful . He had known many

of its members , principally in connection with an older lodge or lodges , and he knew them as brethren well qualified to secure the prosperity of any undertaking with which they might be connected . They were proud to have had Lord Egerton with them on so auspicious an occasion . The province was highly honoured , too , in having so excellent a D . P . G . M . as Bro . Sir Horatio Lloyd .

The SENIOR WARDEN proposed "The W . M . of the Alan Lodge , " a toast which was received with unbounded enthusiasm . He said that three or four years ago the idea of a Masonic lodge being established in that neighbourhood was laughed at . But " they laugh best who laugh last . " The founders had confidence that

they had every promise of success . The W . M . whom they had got to conduct the affairs of the lodge for the first year was no stranger to the district . Most of them had worked with him and were ready to work with him again . He had taken the position in the readiest and most cheerful manner , and he deserved their cordial thanks and their cordial co-operation in the working of the lodge .

The WORSHIPFUL MASTER rose amid much applause to respond . He said the brethren might be certain that he would try and do to the utmost everything he could to promote the welfare of the Alan Lodge . They were all aware that he had many engagements to fulfil , and that he was not the master of his own time , and they would , he felt sure , give him every help he needed as head of the lodge . Bro . LAWLEY next gave " The Consecrating and Installing Officers . "

Bro . the Rev . J . GRANT BIRD , P . G . Chap ., responded in a fine oratorical effort , and also proposed " Success to the Alan Lodge , " which was acknowledged by the WORSHIPFUL MASTER , who said that the consecration of every new lodge was a strengthening not alone of Masonry , but of the Empire under which they lived . Bro . BAXTER proposed "The Visitors , " to which Bro . HOLBROOK , P . G . M . British Columbia and Vancouver Island , responded with some remarks on his own experience of the value of Freemasonry to colonists .

The Health of the Officers of the lodge was afterwards pledged by the company , and the list concluded with the T yler ' s toast . The musical party gave an enjoyable selection of vocal music during the evening . 4

BIBLIOGRAPHY . —The bibliography of Freemasonry is a much larger subject than even Freemasons themselves seem to suppose . Thory may be said practically to have led the way in his "Acta Latomorum , " but very little was done in the matter until KIoss , in 1844 , issued his famous " Bibliographie , " & c , at Frankfort . That invaluable work deserves the hi ghest praise , and he may be

fairly termed the " facile princeps" of bibliographers , and his work the great authority on Masonic bibliography . In England we have nothing of the kind published ; in America one or two contributions have appeared , meritorious , but only contributions . We must not omit to notice Bro . Carson ' s publication . Kloss gives us a list of about 6000 volumes . His laborious work must always remain the standard work on the subject . —Kenning ' s Cyclopaedia of Freemasonry .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Kent.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF KENT .

On Wednesday , the 30 th ult ., the annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Chapter of Kent was held at Sittingbourne , a number of companions from all parts of the county being present . The official business was performed at the Masonic Hall , the list of officers being as follows •. Comp . Earl Amherst ... ... ... ... Grand Supt . „ T . S . Eastes ... ... ... ... Prov . G . H .

„ W . J . Harris ... ... ... ... Prov . G . J . „ T . S . Warne ... ... ... ... Prov . G . S . E . „ R . S . Davey ... ... ... ... Prov . G . S . N . „ W . Russell ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ W . Watson ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg .

„ Henry Mason ... ... ... ... Prov . G . P . S . „ Harry H . Green ... ... ... ... Prov . ist G . A . S . „ W . J . Smith ... ... ... ... Prov . 2 nd G . A . S . „ J . W . T . Chapman ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ C . Eltham ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ W . J . Lane ... ... ... ... Prov . G . D . of C

„ W . Cessford ... ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . of C „ E . B . Hobson ... ... ... ... Prov . G- Org . „ J . E . Wiltshier ... ... ... ... Prov . A . G . S . E . ,, John Cook ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Janitor . A banquet followed at the Town Hall , at which there was a large company , Earl Amherst , Grand Superintendent , in the chair .

Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND .

A Quarterly Communication of the above Grand Lodge was held in the Freemasons' Hall , Edinburgh , on the 7 th inst . The following brethren occupied the leading chairs : Bros . James T . S . Elliot , of Wolfelee , acting Grand Master ; Dr . James Middleton Stow , acting Depute Grand Master ; Major F . W . Allan , acting

Substitute Grand Master ; J . Dalrymple Duncan , S . G . W . ; Col . John Campbell , J . G . W . ; and there were also present Bros . D . Murray Lyon , Grand Secretary ; David Reid , Grand Cashier ; J . Maclntyre , Grand Architect ; Henry G . Christie , Grand Marshal ; David Hume , Grand Bible Bearer ; Dr . Dickson , acting G . S . B . ; James Melville , Past President of Grand Stewards ; and others .

Apologies for absence were intimated from Bros . Sir Archibald C Campbell , of Bl > thswood , Bart , M . P ., G . M . ; the Earl of Haddington , D . G . M . ; SirCharles Dalrymple , of Nevrailes , Bart ., M . P ., Sub . G . M . ; John Graham , of Broadstone , Prov . G . M . of Glasgow ; Col . J . Clark Forrest , of Auchenraith , Prov . G . M . of

the Middle Ward of Lanarkshire ; Capt . M'Lean , Prov . G . M . of the Upper Ward of Lanarkshire ; Dr . Carmichael ; Rev . John Glasse , Grand Chaplain ; and others . Grand Lodge ordered that charters be granted to the following new lodges—Randolph , Buckhaven ; Wemyss , West Wemyss ; and Vryheid , South African Republic .

In accordance with the petition of the lodges in Syria , Bro . Emile Frank , P . M ., of Beyrouth , was appointed Prov . G . M . of Syria . It was reported that the lodges in Ross and Cromart y had recommended Bro . Sir Hector Munro , of Foulis , Bart ., for appointment as Prov . Grand Master of Ross and Cromarty , and that the Grand Master had heartil y endorsed the recommendation . On the motion of Grand Committee , Grand Lodge gave effect to this recommendation .

It was reported by Grand Committee that as the Provincial Grand Lodge of Banffshire was in a disorganised condition , the Grand Master of Forfarshire , Bro . James Barry , had been appointed to preside at the laying of the foundation-stone of a Masonic Institute , and Grand Secretary had been directed to bring the state of the Provincial Grand Lodge under the notice of the Grand Master , with the view of having matters put upon a satisfactory footing .

It was reported that the Grand Secretary had prepared a vidimus of the information lrom lodges under returns ordered by Grand Committee relative to meetings for Masonic purposes in licensed houses , and as to the fees charged for initiation , and consideration thereof had been deferred . The GRAND SECRETARY submitted an elaborate report which he had prepared on the instructions of the Grand Committee in regard to the constitution of the

Grand Committee and the charges which had been made in the composition of it . It showed that 12 of the 28 home provinces are represented on Grand Committee by members resident in each province respectively ; and that the six Masters and 30 proxy Masters sitting on the Committee represent 15 home and eight other provinces . In the 10 home provinces from which there is no direct representation on Grand Committee 115 lodges are embraced , and the 15 that are represented embrace 254 lodges .

It was reported that a Special Committee had under a remit from Grand Committee held a conference with the lodges in the Inverness Province , with a view of having the Provincial Grand Lodge reorganised . From a vidimus by the Grand Cashier it appeared that the income for the quarter ending 26 th July had been £ 1245 , being ^ 579 in excess of the expenditure . There had during that period been 1360 entrants to the order . The income for the first eight months of the year had been £ 3890 , compared with ^ 3687 during

the corresponding period of the previous year , an excess of £ 203 for this year . The sum of ^ 1395 , being one half of the free income of Grand Lodge for the year ending 28 th November last , had been withdrawn from the General Fund and placed to the credit of the Annuity Fund . It was reported that at last meeting 21 annuities had been granted , four of £ 1 $ and 17 of £ 10 each . The death of three annuitants had been reported . During the quarter . £ 140 had been given in grants from the Fund of Scottish Masonic Benevolence .

A report was submitted in regard to negotiations between a Sub-Committee of Grand Committee and a Committee of Lodge St . John , Melrose , in regard to a proposed union of that Iodge with Grand Lodge . The matter had come up in 1 S 8 7 , and the Committee now submitted a basis of union on the footing that Grand Lodge should not interfere with the funds or property presently belonging to Lodge St . John , and that in consideration of the documentary evidence of the antiquity

of this lodge the position of No . 1 ( 2 ) be assigned to it on the roll of Grand Lodge . The Committee stated that the records of the lodge , which commence with a minute of a meeting held at Newstead , date in almost unbroken sequence from 26 th December , 16 74 . The union of this ancient independent body with Grand _ Lodge would efface the last vestige of Masonic schism in Scotland , and , in the opinion of the Committee , no more auspicious day could dawn for the Scottish

Craft than that which recorded the incorporation of the Melrose fraternity under the banner of Grand Lodge . Grand Committee had adopted the report and thanked Dr . Middleton , the Convener of the Committee , for the trouble he had taken in the matter . On this coming before Grand Lodge , Dr . Dickson , as an office-bearer of the Lodge of Edinburgh Mary ' s Chapel , No . 1 , moved that the

proposal that the Melrose Lodge be enrolled as No . 1 ( 2 ) be not adopted meantime , and this was seconded by Bro . Jas . Drummond , W . S ., P . M . of Lodge Canon ^ gate Kilwinning , No . 2 . After some discussion the report was adopted , and Dr , Middleton was accorded the thanks of Grand Lodge for the excellent work which he had accomplished . The other business was unimportant .