Consecration Of The Nil Sine Labore Lodge, No. 2736.

would prove to the Grand Secretary that in consecrating this lodge he had done one of the best things he could do for Freemasonry . Speaking for the Grand Officers he could say they would try to serve the great body of the Craft . The W . M . proposed "The Consecrating Officers , " and said that althoug h he had been a Master Mason for 35 years , this was the first time

he had seen the consecration ceremony . He was sure they would all join with him in thinking how well that ceremony was performed . The worthy representative of the Grand Master—the Grand Secretary—was accustomed to the ceremony and was perpetually consecrating lodges , and the way in which he rendered the ritual could not fail to impress them . He thanked the Grand Secretary and the other Grand Officers , without whom the

Masonic world would be at a loss to get on . He hoped all present would join in heartily drinking the toast , and he coupled with it the name of Bro . Letchworth . Bro . E . LETCHWORTII , G . Sec , said he would rise at once to respond to the toast the W . M . had so kindly proposed , and in terms , as brief as they were sincere , tender the warmest thanks of the Consecrating Officers for the compliment paid them . Of all the duties the Grand Officers were

called upon to perform there was none which afforded them greater pleasure than that of starting into existence a new lodge , and that pleasure was greatly increased when they were sure , as they were that night , that the lodge which they had been privileged to assist in consecrating was one destined to occupy a high position in the lodges of that great Metropolis . He knew that some time ago there was a prejudice against class lodges , but

he was pei fectly satisfied that a lodge composed of those already associated elsewhere had a gieater prospect of success than any other lodge . , For this reason—the members knew one another , knew the candidates who were proposed from time to time for initiation or joining , and , therefore , could keep their lodge united . On behalf of the Consecrating Officers he tendered their warmest thanks for the compliment paid them in the toast . The very

great privilege had been accorded him of proposing to them what was really the toast of the evening . He asked them to join in drinking "The Health of the W . M ., " whom he had had the privilege of installing into the chair of their lodge that night . In addressing those present who were members of the Army Service Corps , it was needless for him to refer to the merits of the VV . M . Bro . Col . Parkyn was not a Mason of yesterday , for he believed it

was 35 years since he saw the light of Masonry . The W . M . had during his service in various parts of the world joined many lodges , having been initiated in South Africa , then proceeding to Ceylon , where he joined a lodge , afterwards joining others in China , and on his return to England , the Provincial Grand Master marked his approbation of his eminent services by

appointing him to Grand office in that province . He ( the Grand Secretary ) congratulated the lodge on having as their first VV . M . one so able to rule them in that , the first , and certainly the most important , year of their existence . He asked them to join in drinking with all cordiality to " The VV . Master . "

Bro . Lieut .-Col . G . J . PAKKYN , VV . M ., in reply , said he was extremely grateful to the G . Secretary and the brethren . He was not given to speechifying , and could only say that he was asked to take office as VV . M . for the first year , which was an honour he was delighted to accept . Nearly three years ago Col . Boyd , in the Horse Guards , atked him why he did not start a corps lodge , but he replied that he was then living in Cornwall . He

found , however , he was too much out of the world , and had now come back near London , and one of the first things he started was this Corps Lodge . As long as he had anything to do with the lodge he should take an interest in furthering its advancement , and would give any member the best assistance he could . He had belonged to service lodges , and had never seen the slightest influence attempted to be used , and did not consider any good

Mason would attempt to do such a thing . From what he knew of the old corps he did not believe there was any man who would attempt such a thing . He wished to point out that class lodges were excellent things . Masonry had wonderfully advanced in the last 15 or 20 years , and in some parts had advanced in a way that they old Masons did not like . The care that should be exercised in admitting candidates into the lodge was not

exercised in the way it should be . The consequence was that later on there was a difficulty in appointing oflicers . They expected to be promoted by seniority , but unless a brother qualified for it seniority counted as nothing . He would take this ' opportunity of thanking the worthy Secretary . Tne lodge was fortunate in having the services of Bro . McFarlane , and they trusted he would go on and continue in that office , and that before long he would be seen wearing the Master ' s collar .

For " The Visitors , " Bros . Adml . St . Clair , Dep . Master of the Navy Lodge , P . P . G . W . ; Major Murdoch , VV . M . Ubique Lodge ; and G . G . liulmour ( Secretary of a lodge in Cornwall , of which Col . Parkyn is the present VV . M . ) , replied . Bro . Sir TERENCE O'BRIEN , P . G . D ., submitted "The Officers , " and in reply Bro . Lieut . MCFARLANE , Sec , said the officers

included some of the best men in the corps , and were second to none for their interest in the Craft . It gave him great pleasure to be thc Secretary of a successful lodge under such a VV . M . The W . M . was an autocrat , and whatever he told the Secretary to do would be done . He would do all that lay in his power to assist the lodge which had been formed under such successful auspices .

The T yler ' s toast closed the proceedings . The following Grand Officers and brethren , who were guests of the lodge , were present : Bros . Lieut .-Gen . J . Wimburn-Laurie , M . P ., P . G . M . S . Wales , P . G . M . Nova Scotia ; T . Fenn , P . G . W . ; R . Eve , P . G . Treas . ; Capt . G . Hearn , G . S . B . ; K . Clay Sudlow , P . G . Std . Br . ; W . Lake , Asst . G . Sec ; Lieut .-Col . W . F MooreP . D . D . G . M . Malta ; Rear-Admiral W . H . C . St . ClairDep . W . M . 2 G 12 ;

, , Sir J . McGrigor , Bart ., J 1591 ; Rev . J . Blackbourne , 1971 ; A . Simmonds , Stwd . 1536 ; W . Thatcher , 1604 ; Rathbone , 1331 ; C . H . Lewis , J . W . 1604 , l ' . M . 2444 , P . P . G . S . B . Surrey ; Lieut . J . Learmont , Sec . 1789 ; F . Walker , 133 M H . Schartau , 1549 ; F . Tebbutt , 2098 j W . Fell , 1706 ; G . Stubbs 77 ; Finch , S . W . 1331 ; H . Gardiner , W . M . 1604 ; Alf . Hill , W . M . 1536 ; Lieut . Townley , Geo . H . Atkinson , P . M . 1331 , P . G . S . B . Hants ; and H . Sadler , G - Tyler .

Tim EARI , OY HOPETOUN ( Lord Chamberlain ) has gone to Beeston Castle , Cheshire , for a few days' hunting . , ON MONDAY NIGHT the Queen gave a party at Osborne , about 60 guests , ' (•hiding in Cowes and the neighbourhood , being invited . A concert was given in the ' " ( bar Room , at which her Majesty and the members of the Royal Family staying at

ine palace were present . Miss Clara Butt sang , and the programme also included selections by the Royal band , conducted by Bro . Sir Walter Parratt . The gu : sts were ¦ uterwards presented to her Majesty in the drawing roam .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

The Quarterly Court of Subscribers to this Institution was held on Fridiy , the 13 th inst ., at Freemasons' Hall , Bro . Richard Eve , P . G . T ., Patron of the Institution , and Chairman of the Board of Management , presiding . There were also present Bros . George Everett , P . G . T . ; J . Strachan , Q . C , G . Reg . ; George Corbie , J . J . Thomas , H . A . Tobias , R . Manuel , J . W . Morrell , J . Stephens , P . Dep . G . D . C ; W . Ratcliffe , P . M ., Sec . 211 ; H . Massey , C . E . Keyser , P . G . D ., Treasurer of the Institution ; A . C . Spaull , P . A . G . D . C ; W . F .

Lamonby , P . G . W . Victoria ; W . H . Pocklington , S . J . Attenborough , P . A . G . D . C , Patron , and Hon . Solicitor ; A . J . Thomas , Patron ; R . Clowes , P . G . Std . Br . ; J . Willing , jun ., R . D . Cummings , W . Russell , P . A . G . D . C . ; H . Pritchard , H . Manfield , Patron ; F . W . Bowater , W . C Parsons , T . A . Bullock , P . G . S . B . ; F . A . Powell , Major J . E . Le Feuvre , P . G . D . ; J . Glass , W . A . Scurrah , P . G . Std . Br . ; E . Margrett , H . Kemp , C . Pulman , and J . M . McLeod , Secretary . The minutes of the October Quarterly Court having bsen read ,

The CHAIRMAN said that before he put the question that they be confirmed he might inform the brethren that he had recei ved , as Chairman of the Board of Management , five or six letters from brethren and lodges protesting against the grant to Bro . McLeod . Of the lodges , the Finsbury Park and the St . Michael ' s were two . The letters had been laid before the Board of Minagemsnt , and he had written to the writers of the letters to express the Board ' s regret that their correspondents did not fall in with the views of the Board as to the grant ; he

also trusted that the Institution would not lose the interest oE these brethren in it because those brethren differed on this point . Some communications had been sent to the Secretary which he ( Bro . Eve ) had not had an opportunity of replying to . One of the dissentient lodges wished its letter of protest to be read to the meeting , to which he replied , certainly ; he should be sorry to keep that protest from the Court as a desire had been expressed that it should be read ; and he would call upon the Secretary to read it , in order that the brethren present might know what the lodge wished .

After a short discussion as to whether the minutes should first be confirmed , and a motion of Bro . Strachan ' s to that effect having been withdrawn , Bro . RATCLIFFE , P . M ., Sec . 211 , read the letter of protest , and added that since that had been written it was acknowledged by Bro . McLeod , who sent certain papers with his letter showing that the 1000 guineas would come out of the Stewards ' fees ; but he ( Bro . Ratcliffe ) still contended that they were out of the funds ofthe Institution , and submitted that it was for the benefit of the Institution that there should be wholesome criticism .

Bro . J . M . MCLEOD reported to the meeting the resolution come to by the Board of Stewards with respect to the honorarium , by which they recorded their entire approval of the recommendation of the Board of Management to grant substantial and well-earned recognition of the services of the Secretary and his staff . Bro . McLeod also read a letter from the Finsbury Park Lodge , stating that it was now satisfied with the way he was to receive the grant for his extra services .

Bro . STANLEY j . ATTENBOROUGH moved the confirmation of the minutes , He had listened with attention to Bro . Ratcliffe ' s remarks . He had known Bro . Ratcliffe many years , and a kinder hearted man did not exist . Bro . Ratcliffe had performed a disagreeable duty , but he was under a mistake when he said the money came out of the funds of the Institution . The matter was duly reported

upon to the Board ot Management , and that Board was of the opinion thit they were better judges of what should be voted to Bro . McLeod than St . Michael ' s Lodge . The Board were 30 or 32 business men who knew all the facts , and they considered the matter very careful [ y . They need not quarrel over the statement made by Bro . Ratcliffe in his letter ; it was a perfectly proper protest to make , but it was made under a misapprehension of facts . He hoped this matter would now go through without any further heat or temper .

liro . Attenborough s motion having been seconded , the [ minutes were con firmed .

After the transaction of other business , on the motion of Bro . ATTENBOROUGH seconded by Bro . VV . A . SCURRAH , the following resolution was adopted : " That in order to recognise the efforts made to elect Albert Edward Johnson , an unsuccessful ( last chance ) case at the October Election in the Centenary year of this Institution , an allowance of £ 20 per annum be made to him

towards his Education and Maintenance , provided he be Educated at a School to be approved by the Board of Management , and be subject to the Rules applicable to Boys maintained and educated out of the Institution , and that such allowance commence from the date upon which he would , if elected , have been admitted into the School . "

It was resolved on the recommendation of the Council of December 30 th , 1898 , " That 23 boys be elected from an approved list of 37 candidates at the election on 14 th April , 1899 . " Bro . RICHARD EVE next made the following statement in reference to the progress in the development of the Bushey site . They had had a number of plans before them that afternoon . They were not much further advanced than

they were at the last Quarterly Court . They found the possible expense might run to a much higher figure than was at first anticipated . They had gone over the matter with the assistance of their adviser , Bro . Rowland Plumbe . They specially provided that a sum of money should not be exceeded . "•They had the quantities taken out and all details gone into , and they found the amount formerly specified would be exceeded ; and as that was so , the Board ot

Management felt they owed a duty to the Craft , and before going further they would consider the matter as fully as they could . He could give no further information than that the matter was under consideration . The Board considered themselves bound , as far as possible , to heep within the limits . They had the money ; but that was no reason they should spend what had been so liberally subscribed .

They felt that the sum originally named was a very substantial sum for the building , and they would be very sorry to go beyond it unless they saw a good reason for it . He must ask the Court to let the matter stand till the next Quarterly Court . He never liked going beyond a limit . Every one of the subscribers had an interest in the case .

Bro . MCLEOD next gave a statement of the income of the Institution for the year 1898 . Bro . EVE announced that the services of the Treasurer , Bro . C . E . Keyser , P . G . D ., had been secured as Chairman for the next Festival , Wednesday , June 28 th .

Bro . KEYSER said he had taken a similar position for the Benevolent Institution in 1 H 92 , the year after that Institution celebrated its Jubilee . He did not interfere with the other Institutions . He should do his best .

Bro . RICHARD IIVE next presented handsome illuminated addresses , framed and glazed , to Bros . Attenborough , A . C . Spaull , and McLeod . With respect to Bro . Attenborough , he said he knew well the splendid services he rendered the Institution on the occasion of its Centenary Festival , and it gave him a great deal of pleasure to be the hand to present the address . Bro . Attenborough ' s services deserved a great deal more ; he was young , and was able and likely to do null more for the Institution in the future . They hoped it would not loie his servicss ,