Outing Of The Royal Kent Preceptory, No. 20, Of Knights Templar.

the works of Messrs . Sir William Armstrong and Co ., where they were met by E , Sir Knight T . Purvis , who conducted them over the extensive premises . At the close , a hearty vote of thanks was passed to their worthy cicerone and the directors for the pleasure derived in inspecting the world-renowned ordnance factories .

The visitors then proceeded down the river to Tynemouth , and on returning to Newcastle visited the Chronicle Office , where they were received by Mr . R . B . Reed , general manager , and his son , Mr . Joseph Reed , works manager , and made a complete tour of the departments , including the extensive range of offices , which have recer . tly been increased by the addition of the fine block of new buildings , forming a new wing , and completing the T shape of the Chronicle Offices , which

formerly were fashioned like the letter L . They were first conducted through the commercial offices , and then through the literary departments , comprising wellequipped rooms for the managing editor , assistant editors , literary staff , sporting staff , and reporters . Afterwards they were taken to the spacious composing room where the whole of the editions of Daily , Evening , and Weekly Chronicles are set up by means of the Linotype . The operators were engaged in setting

into type the special edition of the Evening Chronicle . The room , with its incessant musical clicking of the machines , moved by the busy fingers of operators , was really a hive of industry . The visitors appeared to be deeply interested in the sight , and each before leaving was given a line of type containing his name . From this part of the premises they were taken to the stereotyping department ,

where they saw the pages of the special edition cast , and from thence they were conducted to the machine room , and there saw the printing machines turning out printed copies of the edition with marvellous rapidity . At the close of the inspection the visitors were received by Mr . R . B . Reed in the Chronicle Office Library .

Mr . REED said , on behalf of his principal and himself , he gave them all a hearty welcome . Indeed , he might say he was very proud of their visit , and hoped it would not be the last occasion when he would have the pleasure of seeing them , for at all times he was glad to see Masons . Sir Knight BARRON : And we are all proud of Mr . Cowen , the tribune of the North .

Sir Knight the Earl of EUSTON said their sincere thanks were due to Mr . Reed for his great kindness in showing them over the magnificent establishment and seeing the wondrous machinery at work . They had had explained and shown to them how news was received and published , and he had enjoyed the visit immensely . It would long remain in his memory . That was his third visit

to Newcastle as a Mason , and he had enjoyed every one of his visits , but he must say his trip down the Tyne , to Armstrong ' s Works , and finally winding up with that visit to the Chronicle establishment , was so great a pleasure that it would leave pleasant recollections in his future life . He , therefore , desired , on behalf of his friends and himself , to heartily return thanks for what they had seen .

Mr . REED said he would have great pleasure in conveying to his principal , Mr . Cowen , the remarks of his lordship . Sir Knight BARRON spoke in hi gh terms of commendation of what he had witnessed in the establishment .

Mr . REED trusted the next time they visited the Chronicle he would have something more to show them which might be well worthy of their attention , as they were always trying experiments for still further improving the paper . Sir Knight T . J . ARMSTRONG remarked that Mr . Reed had specially journeyed from Paris in order to be present and receive the visitors from the South .

Ireland.

Ireland .

CONSECRATION OF THE VICTORIA REGINA LODGE , No . 17 G .

On Tuesday , the Sth instant , a new lodge—the Victoria Regina , No . 176 —was consecrated by Bro . the Rev . Dr . F . E . Claike , Deputy Prov . G . M ., in the absence of Bro . Lord Harlech , Prov . G . M ., in the town of Castlebar , North Connaught . Since the year 1817 no Masonic lodge has existed there , and the occasion was made the opportunity of a large gathering of brethren of the Province of North Connaught .

Provincial Grand Ledge was first opened , and the ordinary quarterly business conducted , there being present Bros . W . J . Robinson , P . S . G . W . ; Robert Devenish , P . J . G . W . ; Benjamin St . George Harrison , P . G . Sec . ; Hev . Theophilus P . Landry , as P . G . Chap . ; Joseph Irwin , P . S . G . D . ; Major Maclean , P . J . G . D . ; Arthur Jackson , P . G . S . B .: J . L . Loretto , Org ., and W . A . Shekleton , P . G . I . G .

Subsequent to the Communication of the Provincial Grand Lodge , the consecration ceremony took place , and the new lodge received the name of the Victoria Regina Lodge , in honour of the present month , when our Most Gracious Sovereign " beats the record " in the duration of her prosperous reign . Bro . J . S . Hume was installed first W . M . ; Bro . Francis O'Donel , a . W . ; and Bro . W . B . Carey , J . W .

The music was admirably conducted by Bro . Loretto , and an address utlivered to the brethren by the DEPUTY PROV . GRAND MASTER . The lodge was then closed , ar . d the brethren were hospitably entertained by the founders to dinner , when the loyal and Masjnic toasts were duly honoured , and a collection taken up in aid of the two Irish Masonic Orphan schools .

U is only a year ago since another lodge was consecrated in this province by Bro . Lord Harlech , P . G . M ., viz ., No . 165 , Sligo , which was named the "at lech Lodge .

Reb Cross Of Rome & Constantine.

Reb Cross of Rome & Constantine .

Mount Horeb Sanctuary , No . 8 . r , "' d and flourishing sanctuary and commandery—attached to the Concord tU S - * No " 8 _ mctat the Masonic Temple , Stopford-road , St . Heifer's , J rsey , on l > ' i » i . Insfanf > wnen "" re were present , among others , Sir Knights P . Bois , Rt . Rev . L , ' 5 !? J Capt . 1 . C Barrelte . Prior : I .. P . Hesoirad mx . P . R . R . P .. <^ ne . rhil : I .

• Wliotr , Sub-Prior ; Dr . Maxwell Le Cron er , Capt . of the Cuards ; Major H . Ham i i , ' , - -J J- H . Hambling , Reg . j W . T . Pugsley , Treat , ; and W . H . "" "I'ly , Beadle . COnf e fanctuary having been opened , th : minutes of the last assembly wire read and "" aimed , and the ballot was taken fur Sir Knights C . E . Male ; de Carteret , P . F . Le

Reb Cross Of Rome & Constantine.

Boutillier , J . L . Boyson , and W . H . Hambly , and Sir Knights J . L . Boyson and W . H . Hambly being in attendance , they were admitted into the Order of Knights of Jthe Holy Sepulchre , the ceremony being most effectively and impressively worked by the R . R . Prelate , Prior , and the rest of the officers . The three theological orations w-rre well given bv the Prior , Sub-Prior , and Seneschal , and Sir Knijht L . P . Hespirad nie , P . K . R . P ., delivered the traditional oration of the Order in excellent ttAe . Subsequently a rnmman ^ ru r \( ' si-. Tntin thr . Rvamrelist was onenprl hv thp M K . Comm . inrl-. l-. Sir

Knight P . Bois , with Sir Knights L . P . Hespiradoux , P . M . E . G ., as Seneschil ; J . II . Elliott , as Prior ; Captain J . C . Barrette , as Sub-Prior ; and Or . Maxwell Le Crunier , as C . G . Sir Knights L . Boyson and VV . H . Hambly were atmitted , and instilled as Knights of the Degree , the Grand Officers going thrjugh the lengthy work in a most efficient manner , Sir Knight Captain J . C . Barrette , as Sub-P . iar , delivering the lecture

in a manner that could not be surpassed , and seldom , if ever , have we witnessed the ancient rites and ceremonies gone through in the manner they were on this occasion , every officer , from the M . E . Commander to the Beadle , striving to exc : l one another as exponents of the ceremonies . Other business having been transacted , the election of Sir Knights P . Bois , as R . R . Prelate and Commander ; J . H . Elliott , as Sub-Prior ; VV . T . Pugsley , as Treas . ; and VV . H . Hambly , as Beadle , for the ensuing year took place , and were unanimous .

The commandery having been closed , a banquet followed , at which M . E . Sir Knight P . Bois presided , as usual , in a manner that very few Masonic cha " rmen can excel . The toast of " The Queen and Christian Masonry " hav ' ng been duly and enthusiastically honoured , other toasts followed . The Beadle ' s toast brought the proceedings to an end . Excellent speeches were not wanting , and a very sociable evening was spent .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Chorlton Lodge , No . 1387 . The regular meeting was held on Thursday , the ioth instant , at the Misonic Hill , Chorlton-cum-Hardy . Bro . E . T . Trevor-Smith occupied the chair , supp irted by his officers . The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirm : d . The brethren voted 10 guineas to the Alpass Benevolent Fund , the festival of which takes pi ice on the 6 th prox . at Southport . When all Masonic business had been dispensed with , th :

lodge was closed . The following were present : Bros . E . T . Trevor-Smith , W . M . ; Jno . B . Wolstenholme , P . M . ; T . Shaw , S . W . j J . Kennerley , J . W . ; J . Chadheld , Treas . ; J . Crompton , P . M ., Sec ; John Travers , P . M ., D . C ; E . P . Woodhouse , I . G . ; D . Davis , P . P . G . S . B . ; Chesshyre , H . Cooper , W . Pollitt , F . Rensham , P . M . ; Rev . Cambusold , G . Fenton , J . J . Lomber , P . G . Reg . ; W . Hale , P . M . ; H . Sitthuons ,, H . I . Farthing , W . Goodacre , P . G . S . B . Eng ., P . G . Sec . ; C . A . Trevitt , J . Morgan , G . S . Smith , P . P . G . Org . ; John Walke , W . M . 2359 ; W . N . Amery , A . Moss , J . Heskett , P . M . ; and Dr . Edwards .

Jordan Lodge , No . 1402 . The installation meeting of this lodge was held on Tuesday , the Sth inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Torquay , when there were present an unusually large number of brethren , including Bros . George West , W . M . ; JohnStocker , P . P . J . G . W ., Prov . G . Sec ; John Dodge , P . M ., P . P . G . T . ; John Lane , P . M ., P . A . G . D . C . Englan-1 ; John Taylor , P . M ., Sec , Prov . G . Reg . ; VV . Wakeham , P . M . and Treas . 32 S , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; Ios . Grant , P . M ., P . P . J . G . D . ; J . VV . McKellar , P . M . ; T . H . Wills , P . M . ; S .

Wills , P . M . ; W . Hersey , P . M . ; W . Winget , P . M . ; G . Halls , W . M . ; H . R . BeerjP . M . ; E . Richards , P . M . 328 ; T . J . Grossman , S . W . ; J . D . Beer , S . D . ; C . Hill , J . D . ; F . C . Sanford . Org . ; J . G . Turle , W . T . Gale , and R . D . Scholes , Stwds . ; R . Pickard , I . G . j J E . Newton , Tyler ; C . J . F . Williams , P . M . 1 S 47 ; C . W . Perrett , P . M . 113 S ; R . W . Drew , 135 S ; W . P . Sanders , P . M . 24 S ; and H . Gillard , P . M . 24 S ; upwards of 60 signing the attendance book . After the opening of the lodge and confirming the minutes , the W . M . intimited to

the brethren that the new Prov . Grand Master , Bro . the Hon . Sir Stafford H . Northcote , C . B ., M . P ., had been pleased to appoint Bro . John Taylor , J . P ., P . M ., Sec , to the important office of Prov . Grand Registrar , and the W . M . proceeded to initiate a candidate as E . A . in his usual able manner . The balance sheet for the past year was then produced by the Treasurer , Bro . S . Wills , and considered highly satisfactory , showing a balance in hand on the lodge fund of £ 28 . The Worshipful Master then proceeded to instal his successor in the chair of K . S ., the ceremony b ; ing

earned out by Bro . George West in a most able and efficient manner . 1 he oHic : rs wcr ; then appointed as follows : Bros . George West , I . P . M . ; J . Beer , S . W . ; C . Hill , J . W . ; John Dodge , P . M ., Chap . ; S . Wills , P . M ., Treas . ; J . Taylor , P . M ., Sec . ; J . G . Turle , S . D . ; W . T . Gale , J . D . ; W . Winget , P . M ., D . C ; F . C . Sanf ord , Org . ; R . D . Scholes , I . G . ; 1 . Glanfield and W . Grist , Stwds . ; and J . K . Newton , Tyler . Bio . West , the retiring W . M ., was presented with a Past Master ' s jewel , and suitably returned thanks . Bro . John Stocker then briefly addressed the lodge , and

expressed himself much gratified with the able manner the aff lirs of the lodge h id been carried out , and congratulated the lodge on the correctness of its working ; this wis Bro . Stocker ' s first visit to a lodge out of Exeter since his appointment as Prov . G . Sec . After apologies for absence had been read , including expressions of goodwill from Bro . W . J . Hughan , P . G . D . of England , and Bro . R . F . Gould , P . G . D . of England , the lodge was closed . The brethren , to the number of 53 , sat down to an excellent banquet in the Bath Saloons , catered for by Bro . W . J . Nosworthy . At the conclusion of the repast ,

The W . M . gave the toast ot "The Queen and the Craft , " and said her Most Gracious Majesty had ruled over these realms longer than any other monarch , her Go years of reign being marked by unprecedented prosperity in Science , Literature , and Art . " The M . W . G . M ., H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , " was received with great applause when it was hoted how successfully he had governed the Craft for 21 years . "The Grand Officers , Present and Past , " also came in . for a pretty little speech from the Worshipful Master .

Coming to their own province , the toast ot " The P . G . M . of Devon , with the Dep . P . G . M ., Bro . G . C . Davie , P . A . G . D . C . Eng ., and the Prov . Grand Officers , Present and Past , " was received with much enthusiasm , special mention beinj ; made of the installation of the new P . G . M ., Bro . the Hon . Sir Stafford H . Norticote , C . B ., M . P . Bro . John'Taylor , P . M ., Prov . G . Reg ., Sec , responding to the toast , gave a brief resume ot the history of the formation of the province , which was first formed in 1775 , when SirC . W . Bampfylde , Bart ., was installed P . G . M . ; some 50 years after , Cheshire ,

fo m ; d in 1725 , and in this perioduf 121 years four P . G . Ms had ruled over the province . Tne career of each P . G . M . was briefly passed in review . The 17 years' rule ot the late P . G . M ., Viscount Ebrington , had been marked as one of rapid progress in the Craft in Devon , and Bro . Taylor ventured to think that the present P . G . M . would have an equally prosperous reign in that large and important province , the honoured name of Sir Stafford Northcote carrying' with it , as it did in the county , a charm , was sufficient of itself to ensure prosperity and success to the Craft . That Urge province , consisting

as it did of the whole of Devon , with its 52 lodges , soon to be increased by the consei ration of another lodge at Buckfastleigh in October—making the number 53—comprised between 3000 and 4000 Masons and upwards of Soo Past Masters , and the duty devolving upon the ruler of the province and his advisers was no light or easy one , and tne selection of brethren for provincial rank became exceedingly ditiicuP , and it was to be regretted that by the recent returns more than 10 percent , uf the bretnren were returned as "in arrear " —a matter requiring careful looking into . Bro . Wa ' eeham , P . M ., Treas . 32 S , P . P . G . Std . lir ., also responded .

The toasts of "The W . M ., " " The Installing l . P . M , " " the Visitors , " and others were also given . The Charity Steward , Bro . T . II . WIIIF , gave the toast of " The Charities , " giving a tabulated return of the lodge , mentioning Hut Bro . | oha Lane ha J increased his votes in the R . M . B . l . by 25 . The Tyler ' s toast brought one of the most sjeceisful installation meetings to a close .