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property of any one brother , or Masonic library in this kingdom , and by having opened the collection to be viewed by the Craft has done much to create a taste for Masonic literature generally . * * THE Cabinet of Masonic medals is bv far the largest of its kind in Europe

or America , numbering over 400 pieces , several of which are unique . Bro . TAYLOR and his province are to be congratulated on the acquirement of such an extraordinary assemblage of tangible , though silent , witnesses to the spread of the Society of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons . In the department of works the collection is quite as valuable ; various sets of

scarce , and practically unattainable books , being complete , and in an exceptionally perfect state , the volumes being considerably more than those oi the medals already noted . In this connection we remember with gratitude the example set by Bro . WHYTEHEAD , Bro . TODD , and other

friends at York , in their notable exhibitions of Masonic curios , the pioneers of the movement , which has borne such good fruit . We want now , however , a catalogue of the Worcestershire collection , with notes by Bro . HUGHAN , or some other Masonic expert , so as to make it of use to Masonic Students the wide world over .

* * * A . ... THERE is a marvellous tenacity of hatred in some members of the Roman Catholic priesthood against secret societies , and societies which are alleged to be such . We Freemasons have had many proofs of this , several even among the Popes themselves having honoured us with their denunciations .

Now , it seems , a dead set is being made against the Primrose League , on the ground that it is principally composed of Church of England heretics , Freemasons , and Orangemen . The Church of England heretics and Orangemen are quite capable of taking care of themselves , and will do so no doubt at the proper time and in the manner which seems best to them .

As for the Freemasons , we venture to say that if , as we know is the case , many of the Primrose Leaders are also prominent Freemasons , they are so not by virtue of their Freemasonry , which recognises no party political distinctions , but because they happen to be associated with the party which has succeeded in organising the League as a means for extending its political

opinions . . Or , to put the matter differently , there are Freemasons who , being Conservative in politics , support the Primrose League , just as there are Freemasons who , being Liberal in politics , consider it a very stupid organisation . But the Conservatism of its supporters and the Liberalism of its opponents have nothing whatever to do with their Freemasonry .

Lord HERSCHELL , for instance , the present Lord Chancellor , is a member of Mr . GLADSTONE ' S Ministry , Lord RANDOLPH CHURCHILL is one of its principal opponents . Both are Freemasons , but Lord HERSCHELL is not a Minister because he is a Freemason , neither is Lord RANDOLPH CHURCHILL an opponent of the Ministry for such reason . We have said something of

this kind before , but we repeat it now , because nothing shows so clearly the absurdity of the statement made against the Primrose League that it is worth y of denunciation because some of its most prominent members happen to be Freemasons , than the fact that some of its most prominent opponents belong to the same Society . However , we cannot help being surprised at the want

of common sense displayed by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Nottingham in denouncing the Primrose Leaguers , because some of them are Freemasons , when it is an indisputable fact that others among the same prominent Leaguers , including the Duke of NORFOLK , are devotedly attached to the Roman Catholic faith .

* # * OUR surmise that the result of the Benevolent Festival would ultimately be a round £ 15 , 000 has been realised . Between £ 140 and £ 150 had been received up to Saturday last , when the revised total was £ 15 , 000 lis . 6 d . Other small amounts have been paid in during the current week , and there

are probably a few further sums which have yet to find their way into the treasury of the Institution , of which no particulars have been as yet forthcoming . However , it is sufficient for us to know that £ 15 , 000 has been reached , and that this will be the figure always associated with this particular Anniversary for the current year .

* # * EXCEPTION has been taken to a mode of expression we employed in our leading paragraph last week on Bro . FENN ' S speech at the recent Festival of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement . We said the lodge in question " was founded under warrant from , " & c , the word " warrant " being used

in the sense of " sanction , a lodge of instruction not needing a formal warrant of constitution , but only the sanction of a warranted lodge , or the authority of the Grand Master . We did , however , by a slip of the pen , describe the sanctioning lodge as the " Lodge of Unions , " with which the

Emulation has been associated for the greater part of its existence , instead of thel " Lodge of Hope , " to which it is indebted , in the first instance , for that existence . The interesting communication of Bro . H . SADLER , in another part of the paper , will have made this clear .

Consecration Of The Henley Chapter, No. 1472.

CONSECRATION OF THE HENLEY CHAPTER , No . 1472 .

The consecration of the above chapter , at the Three Crowns Hotel , North Woolwich , took place on Thursday , the nth inst ., M . E . Comp . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , M . E . Z ., Grand Scribe E ., performing the ceremony , assisted by M . E . Comps , Edgar Bowyer , as H . ; Dr . J . N . Cox , D . D ., M . A ., as J . ; J . L . Mather , as D . C . ; C . F . Matier , as S . N . ; and M . E .

Comp . J . Sadler , P . Z . and Grand Janitor , as Janitor . The grand and impressive ceremony was , we need hardly say , magnificently rendered by the Consecrating Officer and his colleagues , suffice it , the address by M . E . Comp . Clarke and M . E . Comp . Cox ' s oration were listened to with the greatest attention , and will , we feel sure , make a lasting impression upon those who were so fortunate as to be present to hear them , The occasional

Consecration Of The Henley Chapter, No. 1472.

anthems , chants , & c , were effectively sung by Comps . F . Cozens , Carter , and Bell ; and the whole affair was most elaborately and impressively carried out . The following companions , all of whom are founders of the chapter , were then installed , or invested according to their rank of office r Comps . A . Penfold , P . Z . 13 , P . Z . 913 , and P . P . G . 1 st Asst . S . Kent , was installed as Z . ; R . J . Warren , 13 , as H . ; and J . Aillud , S 29 , as J . ; C . Jolly ,

913 , was invested as S . N . ; B . Brayshaw , as S . E . ; C . H . Wood , 13 , as Treasurer ; S . C . Hill , as P . S . ; and C . H . Canning , 13 , as ist Asst . S . At the completion of the ceremony , votes of thanks were tendered Comps . Clarke , Bowyer , and Cox , ancl they were elected , by acclamation , honorary members of the chapter , for which due thanks were returned . Several nominations , both for exaltation and joining , were proposed , and

then the chapter was closed in ancient form . The banquet was handsomely served and gave unlimited satisfaction . Among those present , and not above enumerated , were : Comps . J . W . Woodall , P . Z . 200 , Grand Treasurer of Grand Lodge ; C . Coupland , P . Z . 13 , 913 , P . P . G . H . Kent ; Dr . Flaxman Spurrell , P . Z . S 2 g , 'P . P . G . R . Kent ; E . Denton , P . Z . 13 , 013 , P . P . P . S . Kent ; Col . A . Richardson , P . Z . irii ; S . lacobs .

P . Z . ( Joppa ); VV . Land , P . Z . 225 ; H . Roberts , P . Z . 79 ; R . Edmonds , Z . 013 ; G . Kenneday , Z . 13 ; A . J . Manning-, Z . 217 ; W . B . Lloyd , P . Z . 913 ; H " . Mason , P . Z . 913 ; J . Wilkins , P . Z . 13 ; W . Rees , H . 913 ; E . B . Hobson , J . 913 ; E . Palmer , ist Asst . S . 913 ; G . Spinks , J . 13 ; A . VV . Bateman , J . 1973 ; H . Rogers , P . S . S 9 S ; B . Carter , 554 ; T . R . Richardson , 913 ; VV . King * , 13 ; C . Reeve , S 9 S ; J . Topp , 913 ; A . R . Trew , S 9 S ; and others . -1

" Non Nobis " having been sung , the M . E . Z . in eloquent and felicitous terms , proposed "The Health of the Queen and Royal Arch Masonry , " " H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , the First Grand Principal , " "The Pro First Grand Principal , the Earl of Carnarvon ; the Second Grand Principal , the Earl of Lathom ; and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " the latter toast being coupled with the name of

Comp . WOODALL , who , in response , said he could assure them that he felt very grateful for the honour done him in coupling his name with so important a toast as lhat of the Grand Officers of Grand Chapter . Of course it was by their suffrages that he occupied the position he held , a position he was proud of . Those who lived in that part of . England knew more of the

Ofiicers of Grand Chapter than he did , and he felt sure they would take it that those distinguished Masons did their duty well . He thanked them for their kind invitation , and was sure that upon some future occasion , when he trusted to again visit them , he should find the chapter consecrated that day a most successful one .

Comp . CLARKE then proposed the toast of "The M . E . Comp . Penfold , the First Z . of the Henley Chapter . " He said he rose with a great deal of pleasure to propose the health of the good and worthy companion who then filled the position of Z . of that chapter . It was the ambition of every companion , or ought to be , to rise to the position of First Principal of his chapter , but it was an especial honour , and not within the reach of every one , to be

the first Z . of a chapter , a position achieved that day by the worthy and excellent Mason who now presided over that meeting . The founders of the Henley Chapter had been most fortunate in getting such a good brother of the Craft , and one who had done such good suit and service in Royal Arch Masonry , to fill the position of their first Z ., and he congratulated them upon their choice , and , as he before said , upon their good fortune . The Provincial

Grand Superintendent of a neighbouring provincehad given Comp . Penfold provincial honours . He ( Col . Clerke ) was in a position to know that the Grand Supt . of the Province of Kent had found Comp . Penfold worthy of the distinction conferred upon him , and would be pleased to see the name of so good a Mason recorded as the First Principal of the Henley Chapter .

In conclusion , he could only say that he trusted the members of the mother lodge would support Comp . Penfold . and make the chapter a successful one , and had no hesitation in asking them to drink the health of their esteemed Z ., and wish him health and happiness , and plenty of work during his year of office .

The toast was drunk with enthusiasm , and , in response , Comp . PENFOLD said : To fill the chair of Z . is the highest honour a chapter can bestow on any of its members ; to be the First Principal of a chapter was a still higher honour . As the occasions of a consecration are rare , therefore there are fewer opportunities to gratify the ambition of the most aspiring aspirants to this distinguished honour ; but , where the honour

was greater , the responsibilities were also greater . The character of a chapter was sometimes stamped and the tone set by the actions and doings of its First Principals ; it therefore behoved them to use care , and judgment , and caution in all that appertained to the chapter , especially as to its good working . In asking for a charter for this chapter , they felt they were asking to supply a want . It was , perhaps , an open question whether every

lodge should have its chapter , or whether one chapter was sufficient for one , two , or three , or more lodges , according to the district and circumstances ; he was of opinion that a chapter for a given multiplicity of lodges met generally the requirements of chapter Masonry . All good men and true , having the desire , were admitted into Craft Masonry ; but many fell out from various causes . As a rule , those who entered Arch Masonry were the

most active and intelligent of Craft Masons , and a chapter drawing its members from different lodges was , he thought , calculated to promote an inter-communion between the leading spirits of those lodges . The Henley Chapter was an exception ; it was unique in its position ; at South Woolwich and Plumstead there were two chapters ; but the river divided north from south ; east , or west , or north there was not a chapter for miles , and then

the Henley Lodge was a strong lodge—it was a good working lodge ; perhaps the best proof of this was in the fact that each outgoing Master felt it his duty to install his successor . It would be considered derogatory to his position as Master of the lodge , and disparaging to his reputation as a Past Master , not to be able to install . Such is the material of which we hope to build up the Henley Chapter , which has this day started on its course . He

then said the Henley Chapter had that day been called into being ; it had that day been called lo and prepared , according to their ancient rites , to enter on its Masonic duties ; the breath of life had been breathed into it ; and it was now a living , animate Masonic bod y . What would be the future of the Henley Chapter ? who could predict ' i who could say r * Would it succeed , or would it foil ? Would il grow into a strong and vigorous plant , or would it be a weakly thing , and wither and die' ! Would it add strength

and beauty to the Ma * onic structure , or would it be distasteful and useless ? He had no hesitation in saying that the destiny of the chapter was in its own hands . If the members were true lo themselves and the Principals they all professed to admire , if there was a judicious energy and a united action , then not only would the Henley Chapter succeed , not only would it be strong , but it would have an honourable place on the roll of English chapters . Reading the Freemason the other day , it mentioned a lodge that was famous , while it said some were content with a " gentle unobstrusive re-