Consecration Of The Headingley Lodge, No. 2608, Leeds.

The toast was suitably acknowledged by Bo . J . P . MANN , W . M . 289 To the toast of " The Visitors , " most ably and cordially proposed by Bro . T . A . WITIIEY , P . M . 1299 , P . P . D . G . R . West Lanes , and J . W . of the lodge , and replies were given by Bros . J . S . PETCH , P . M . 1611 ; H . CHILD , P . M . 1221 ; and STUDDING P . M . 481 . The other toasts were " The Musical Brethren , " proposed by the W . M ., "The Officers of the Lodge , " and " The Masonic Charities . "

" The Poor and Distressed , " ttc ., ended the toast list , and closed the proceedings , which had been characterised by efficiency , decorum , and true ]\ l « onic feeling in the lodge , and by hospitality , courtesy , and kindliness at refreshment .

Though not enamoured with its name , we yet think that the Headingley Lodge , commenced und ; r auspices so favourable , composed of elements of business , strength , and capacity , guided by experience , and launched with universal good feeling , will not fail to justify its position and add lustre to the Masonic roll of West Yorkshire .

Consecration Of The London School Board Lodge, No. 2611.

CONSECRATION OF THE LONDON SCHOOL BOARD LODGE , No . 2611 .

A new lodge , called the London School Board Lodge , promoted in connection with the School Board for London , was consecrated on Monday , the 13 th inst ., at the Masonic Hall , 33 , Golden-square . The founders of the lodge were Bros . Lord George Francis Hamilton , M . P ., Prov . Grand

Master for Middlesex , P . G . W . ; Sir Reginald Hanson , M . P ., P . G . W . ; Harry Seymour Foster , M . P ., P . M . 101 ; Major Clifford Probyn , P . M . 18 and 2021 ; the Rev . Arnold Whitaker Oxf . ird , P . M . 4 ; Henry Lynn , P . M . 217 ; W . H . Kidson , 2395 ; Benson Clough , 217 ; W . Roston Bourke , 749 ; and W . H . Key , 901 .

The brethren present on the occasion of the consecration and at the subsequent banquet were—Bros , the Rev . J . S . Brownrigg , P . G . Chap . ; Thomas Fenn , P . G . D . ; Alfred Cooper , F . R . C . S ., P . G . D . ; Archdeacon Stevens , G . Chap . ; J . H . Matthews , P . D . G . D . C ; Major C . W . Carrell , P . G . S . B . ; the Earl of Euston , P . G . MNorths and Hunts ; W . H . Kidson , 2395 ; Edmund Barnes , P . M . 1351 ; R .

B . Kidson , 1830 ; Walter H . Key , I . G . 901 ; Turle Lee , 226 4 ; Henry Yates , S . W . 2395 ; J . G . Albert , P . M . 227 ; A . Pain Walkden , P . M . 1366 ; A . L . Savory , S . W . 1731 ; George May , 2000 ; Robert Grice , 1399 ; Henry Sadler , Grand Tyler ; Dr . Clement Godson , P . G . D . ; G . Benson Clough , 217 ; Arthur Dutton , P . M . 34 ; the Rev . A . W . Oxford , P . M . 4 , P . G . S . ; Edward White ,

2603 ; Charles Jerome , 2603 ; Major Clifford Probyn ; H . S . Foster , M . P . ; Henry Lovegrove , G . S . B . ; H . Massey , 160 , P . M . 619 and 1928 ; W . Roston Bourke ; ' Henry Lynn , P . M . 217 ; Walter M . Wilkinson , P . P . G . Reg . Surrey ; C . F . Matier , P . G . S . B . ; Dr . ] . Balfour Cockburn , Prov . G . M . Guernsey and Alderney ; W . Basson , 650 ; and G . Austin .

The lodge was to have been consecrated by Bro . Edward Letchworth , Grand Secretary , but that brother having had the commands of her Majesty to be present at the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace , his place was taken by Bro . the Rev . ' J . Studholme Brownrigg , P . G . C . Bro . Thos . Fenn , P . P . B . G . P ., acted as S . W . ; Bro . Alfred Cooper , P . G . D ., as J . W . ; Bro . the Ven . Archdeacon Stevens , G . C ., as Chaplain ; Bro . J . H . Matthews , P . D . G . D . C , as D . C ; and Bro . Major C . W . Carrell , P . G . S . B ., as I . G .

The musical arrangements were under Bro . J . Turle Lee , who was assisted by Bros . Henry Yates , Robert Grice , and George May . Bro . Archdeacon STEVENS , G . C ., delievered the oration , after which the lodge was formally consecrated , constituted , and dedicated , and Bro . Arnold Whitaker Oxford was installed as Master of the lodge by Bro . the Rev . J . S . Brownrigg . Bro . Major Clifford Probyn , P . M ., was appointed to act as

I . P . M . for the first year , and Bro . Henry Lynn was invested as S . W ., and Bro . W . H . Kidson as J . W . Bro . H . S . Foster , M . P ., was elected and invested as Treasurer ; Bros . Edmund Barnes , Sec . ; G . Benson Clough , S . U . ; W . Roston Bourke , J . D . ; VV . H . Kev , I . G . ; and Geo . Austin , Tyler . The names of a large number of candidates for initiation and joining were given in ; votes of thanks were accorded to the consecrating brethren , who were also elected honorary members of the Iodere . The Committee to

irame the by-laws was appointed , and , nothing further offering for the good cf Freemasonry and the lodge , the brethren closed down and adjourned to ihe Cafe Roy & I to banquet , where they concluded the pleasures of a most "greeable day . i he usual toasts followed the banquet , and some capital vocal music w as performed by Bros . Turle Lee , Hy . Yates , Robert Grice , and George

nro Earl of EusTON > in responding to the toast of " The Grand Ulncerc , " vvhom the W . M . described as all good and true men , but none wore good and true than those who honoured the lodge with their presence hat evening , said he did not think he should be doing wrong in copying u i , mple of lhe W . M . '" making a short speech . He hoped the lodge would be prosperous and long be an honour to the Craft . He was certain it

sh M u' Ic was a great lhing tha ' members ° f large governing bodies •nould be brought trgether in other gatherings than where they met for amt ^ P P oses - As the London County Council , the Army and Navy , tin ,, c , ass loc ? ges had been started , he hoped that more of that descrip-, on ° ula be established , and that the whole of them might prosper and adorn the Craft .

andPi " 0 " fy-AAV . OXFORD , W . M ., next gave the toastof "The Consecrating Brn 1 t u g Brethren , " and said they had been unfortunate in not having ' eh Ucnwort ; h with them . Yet he thought they might congratulate themli es ? seeing the Grand Officers so well renresented . The . v WPTB all

'or the 1 £ Ce liro ' Btmvnr , £ gi Wllri whom on every point he had disagreed . of hit ^ y ears ~ ( laughter)—Bro . Fenn—one of the prominent members learcl n a £ 0 nry ' iir 0 ' Alfred Cooper ( his own next door neighbour for 16 wrn . » . i ° Carrell , and his old friend the Grand Chaplain , with '•° -e oration they must all have been delighted .

Consecration Of The London School Board Lodge, No. 2611.

Bro . the Rev . J . S . BROWNRIGG , P . G . C , in replying , said that the W . M . had said with ereat truth that on every point for the last 13 years they had disagreed . When Bro . Oxford was a candidate for his ( Bro . B-ownrige ' s ) division of the School Board , he was able to sav to Bro . Oxford with perfe : t truth that they could stand drinks to each other without fear of infringing the Corrupt Practxes Act . There was an advantage in disagreeing therefore . It was rather curious that the Grand Secretary should hive asked him

to consecrate the School Board Lodge who was secretary of the National Society and editor of the School Hoard Guardian . Perhaps the Grand Secretary at first sight did not know what he was doing , hut he thought Bro . Letchworth did know . A man of such universal benrv > lence could not have failed to know the good work done by the National Society ; such a substantial ratepayer could not fail to know the good work done by the School Board ; and he might have been of opinion that it would broaden some views and contract others if he selected him to act for him . All the

Consecrating Officers thanked the brethren for that toast . For himself , he was ashamed of performing the ceremony before Bro . Thomas Fenn , who was of European reputation , and Bro . Archdeacon Stevens , who was his ( Bro . Brownrigg ' s ) superior . He proposed Bro . Stevens as a Mison , but he was pleased to say that on that foundation Bro . Stevens had raised a superstructure perfect in its parts and most honourable to the builder . ( Laughter . ) "

He would now propose a toast— "Success to Ihe London School Board Lodge . " There was every prospect of success before the brethren . The W . M . had asked him , in his capacity of an honorary member , to come and help at the next meeting in the working , as the J . D . was likely to be away . He was pleased to think that he would have to say what could not be contradicted—that Mr , Diggle , a great friend of his , and Canon Ingram were

two poor candidates in a state of darkness . That pleasure would be greatly enhanced if he could say the same of Mr . Lyulph Stanley and Mr . Macnamara . ( Laughter . ) But then it would be a proud privilege for the W . M . on the following lodge meeting to retort on him by telling the candidates that Masonry was a " progressive " service , so that if he ( Bro . Brownrigg ) scored the first night , the W . M . would score the second . ( Laughter . ) But

putting joking aside , he would call on Major Clifford Probyn , who was a strong progressive—a progressive in the true sense of the word—to return thanks for the toast— " Success to the London School Board Lodge . " Bro . Maj . CLIFFORD PROBYN , I . P . M ., responding , said he felt in a somewhat awkward position , the toast being one of great importance , not only to the Masonic world , but to London . Why ? Because he believed the

introduction of Masonry into the School Board of London would rub down those knobs and excrescences which so ruined the work of that illustrious body , the School Board . Bro . Brownrigg had used with respect to him the word "progressive . " It was perfectly true that he felt in a sense progressive , and progressive in the particular sense that he had indicated , that there should be brotherly love and harmony included in the School Board Lodge

for London , to bring about a better result for the children of London and the people of London . It was very kind of Bro . Brownrigg to use such delightful expressions , and to allude to conditions which existed between himself and the archdeacon ; but , of course , as representing 5 , , 000 of people , it would be a very astonishing fact , indeed , if they concurred in every direction ; some were for one object , some for another ; but whatever their

political tendencies , he believed as in the old days when he was a member of the Board , there was the same object , the advancement and welfare of the people . They grumbled at the very big charges , but he held it was a laudable object so long as things were done in the best way . If people were dissatisfied , let them do something in a different direction , and then , indeed , they would be progressive . He was glad to hear that Mr . Diggle was

coming in . If they could get Mr . Lyulph Stanley they should never despair with those bright ornaments to adorn the Order ; of bringing together those opposed in educational ideas . He ventured to think that those brethren who then surrounded the table , would help to make the London School Board Lodge one of the greatest successes London had ever known . The Earl of EUSTON , in proposing " The W . M ., " said he had known

Bro . Oxford many years in Freemasonry , and a more sincere and hearty brother he had never met . The brethren had made no mistake in selecting him for their first W . M . He hoped he would be able to carry that out , and he believed he would be able to carry out all he had undertaken , and give the lodge a start in his year of office which would not be equalled . Bro . Rev . A . W . OXFORD , W . M ., in acknowledging the kind way in which

the toast , so feelingly proposed by Lord Euston , had been received by the brethren , assured them that whatever he could do to make the lodge a success he should do . The honour of being the first Master of the lodge came upon him as a surprise ; he never expected when it was thought of being founded that he was to be the Master . But as he was Master , during the time he held that position he would try to make the lodge successful .

He was sure it- would be , and that the proceedings of the School Board would be equally successful if at the School Board the members followed h ' s example of making the speeches short . If the same thing was done in the House of Commons it would be much happier for the country . He would now propose the toastof "The Visitors , " and he asked the brethren to drink their health most heartily . Bro . EDWARD WHITE , P . M . 177 , Secretary of the London County Council Lodge , in reply , spoke favourably of such bodies as the School

Board and the County Council having Masonic lodges , as Masonry produced a better feeling among the members , which he believed would be for the advantage of London generally . The asperities which cropped up from time to time on Boards would be softened and minimised by meeting round the social table . He would content himse'f by wishing every prosperity to the School Board Lodge , and he hoped London would benefit by the good feeling engendered among members of the Boards by Freemasonry .

Bro . WILKINSON also replied . He had been a Mason more than 40 years , and yet that was only the second consecration he had seen , and it was a curious fact that the person who performed the ceremony was the son of the Provincial Grand Master of Surrey , for whom all Masons had the greatest affection and respect . It had been a great gratification to him to find that happy tradition carried on from generation to generation . He desired to wish a lodge started under such happy circumstances every

success . Bro . ALBERT , W . M . 2395—the recommending lodge—also responded , and said they recommended the petition for several reasons—first , because Bro , Kidson was an ardent Mason ; secondly , because they thought brotherly love would be promoted in the School Board , which it was not at present ; next , because tl e ratepayers wanted relief ; and , further , that they wanted truth . ( Laughter . ) The Tyler ' s toast brought the proceedings to a close .