Consecration Of The Albert Lodge.

Bro . Barron L . Barnett , P . G . D . England , to officiate as Presiding Officer . The Presiding Officer then filled the officers' chairs as follows : Bros . J . D . Reeve , D . S . G . W ., as S . W . ; A . J . Stephenson , Pres . Dist . Board of General Purposes , as J . W . ; F . D . Granville , D . J . G . D ., as S . D . ; A . Corrie ,

S . W . 2119 , as J . D . ; the Hon . C . H . A'Court , D . G . President , as I . G .: J . S . Michael , D . A . G . Sec , as Sec . ; and the following D . G . Officers alsp assisted in the ceremonies : Bros . W . Finucane , D . G . Treas ., as incense bearer ; J . H . Gill , D . G . Reg . ; J . G . Appel , Past Pres . Dist . Board of General Purposes ; R . Gailey , D . G .

Supt . of Works ; H . Wyman , D . G . S . B . ; A . W . Michael , Sec . 908 , as D . G . D . C . ; P . C . Atkinson , D . G . Org . ; and J . Harlen , D . G . Tyler . There were also present Bros . Wheelan , W . M . Beenleigh Lodge ( I . C . ) ; Powell , 1186 ; Canning , 796 ; and representatives of several other lodges in the district .

I he ceremony of constitution and consecration was then proceeded with by the Presiding Officer , and , being concluded , Bro . the Rev . W . D . Meiklejohn , I . P . M . 2235 , was duly installed iii the chair , and together with the following brethren invested with the insignia of their office as officers of the Albert Lodge

-Bros . H . W . Shaw , S . W . ; J . W . Palmer , J . W . ; J . G . Appel , Treas . ; William Taylor , Sec . ; W . J . Browne , S . D . ; J . Lamont , J . D . ; and H . W . Coles , Tyler . The impressive ceremonies of consecration and installation were excellently performed by Bro . Barron

L . Barnett , Presiding Officer , and the whole attentively followed and joined in by all the brethren present . The ceremonial being concluded , the brethren adjourned to Bro . Lament's hotel , close at hand , where they partook of an excellent supper , at which the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were duly proposed and honoured .

Board Of Benevolence.

BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE .

The last meeting for the year 1889 of the Board of Benevolence , was held on Wednesday evening , at Freemasons' Hall , Bro . Robert Grey , P . G . D ., President of the Board , presided , and the Senior and Junior Vice-Presidents , Bros . James Brett , P . G . P ., and C . A . Cottebrune , P . G . P ., occupied their respective chairs .

Bro . Col Shadwell H . Clerke , G . Sec . Bro . A . A . Pendlebury , A . G . Sec , Bro . W . Dodd , and Bro . W . H . Leee represented Grand Secretary's office ; and there were also present Bros , the Rev . J . Studholme Brownrigg , P . G . Chap . ; W . H . Ferryman , Albert Lucking , David D . Mercer , Henry Garrod , Wm .

Brown , Eugene Monteuuis , George B . Chapman , Chas . Belton , J . B . Grieve ; E . Shedd , Charles Fredk . Hogard A . C . Woodward , James Bunker , R . J . Taylor , E Letchworth , James Devan , Charles E . Birch , J . Newton , C . S . Mote , L . Archer , H . Grice , W . Webber , H Dehane , G . Powell , George Spinks , E . Bateman , H

Massey , H . Cox , Thos . Brooke , G . H . Clark , W . Adams , G . Ransford , H . Salter , E . C . Lister , W . T . H . Mayer , A . H . Shepherd , Valentine Wing , A . Darck , H . Dickey , F . M . Bilby , Thos . Weeks , J . D . Graham , Henry Parker , J . R . Orme , T . B Dodner , W . Douglas , E . Farwig , J . J . Cantle , Henry Harbord , G . Emblin ,

and H . Sadler , G . Tyler . ' The brethren first confirmed recommendations made at the former meeting to the extent of £ 170 . There were 39 cases on the new list , qualified through lodges in the London district , and at Luton , Southend , Whitehaven , Liverpool , Uxbridge , Colchester , Riverhead ,

Sheerness , Rochford , Newbury , Stony Stratford , Willington Quay , Filey , Meerut , New York , Gibraltar , Guildford , Dover , Tenterfield , N . S . W ., South Shields , Tunis , Calcutta , Knutsford , Cleckheaton , and Chester . Five of the cases were deferred , being incomplete , and one was dismissed , not being within the rules of the Fund of Benevolence . The remainder vvere relieved

with a total sum of £ 782 . There were in this sum two recommendations to Grand Lodge of £ 50 each ; five to the Grand Master of £ 40 each ; and six of £ 30 each . There were also 11 immediate grants of . £ 20 each ; two of £ 15 each ; four of £ 10 each ; two of £ 5 each ; and one of £ 2 . The Board rose at nine p . m .

Annual Supper Of The Panmure Lodge Of Instruction, No. 720.

ANNUAL SUPPER OF THE PANMURE LODGE OF INSTRUCTION , No . 720 .

The lodge of instruction attached to the Panmure Lodge , No . 720 , which for many years has been doing good work , held its annual supper at the Balham Hotel , Balham , on Wednesday , the 4 th instant , under the

presidency of the esteemed Preceptor , Bro . T . Poore , P . M . He vvas well supported , the brethren present including Bros . E . J . Turnbull , J . D . 1524 ; Graham P . M ., P . P . G . O . Middx . and Surrey ; A . C . Wood ; w ! S . Dunkley , P . P . G . P . Middx ., Secretary ; A . L . Leonard , B . Bennett , R . Pearse , H . D . Hatfield , Bemsell , C .

Fruen , Mitchell , Pearn , Bowen , G . Nott , Dr . Lewis Jones , F . Ricardo , G . C . Hughes , and W . W . Lee . The work in the lodge room was necessarily short , but was sufficient to prove the proficiency of Bro . Turnbull , who occupied the chair , and the other brethren in office .

A substantial repast , supplied by the worthy host , vvas thoroughly enjoyed , and a pleasant evening was spent , the spe . eches being alternated with some excellent musical selections by Bros . W . S . Dunkley , G . S . Graham , and Wood . Mr . Ferdinand Dunkley , who was recently successful in winning the prize for a suite , played a selection from that piece .

Annual Supper Of The Panmure Lodge Of Instruction, No. 720.

The preliminary toasts having been disposed of , Bro . POORE , P . M ., said that as their lodge of instruction was worked under the authority and sanction of the mother lodge , he would ask the brethren to drink " Success to the Panmure Lodge , No . 720 . " On that occasion he was pleased to announce that the W . M . of that lodge ,

Bro . Dr . Jones , was with them , and he should ask that brother to kindly respond . Bro . Dr . J ONES , W . M . 720 , returned sincere thanks , and said it was a good sign to see such a good collection of brethren attending the lodge of instruction under the sanction of the Panmure Lodge . The

mother lodge was improving year after year , and he hoped there vvould be plenty of work for it in the future . Bro . A . C . WOOD said he had been unexpectedly called upon to perform a pleasing duty . It vvas to propose the health of one of the most popular and

most respected Masons—their Preceptor , Bro . Thomas Poore , P . M . and Sec . of the Panmure Lodge . As one of the brethren who had derived much benefit from his kindness , it gave him considerable pleasure to wish Bro . Poore long life and prosperity . No one in the room would disagree that to a certain extent their

Preceptor had been the backbone of tneir lodge of instruction equally as much as of the Panmure Lodge , and it was therefore a sincere pleasure to ask them to drink his health in the most kindly manner . Bro . THOS . POORE , P . M ., in reply , said he knew not what to say after the eloquent remarks of Bro . Wood .

He believed their lodge of instruction would hold its own with any existing in England . He believed their working vvould carry its way and be recognised as being , if not exact , as near as anyone could have it . Lodges of instruction differed a little , but , as far as his own knowledge was concerned , their working would be

recognised as the nearest approach to what was right and proper . It was with a great deal of satisfaction that he found the lodge making such progress . Bro . Wood had said he vvas the backbone , but he would say there was a great deal of credit due to another , to whom he should allude later on . On his own behalf ,

he thanked them sincerely for the way they had received him , and he hoped to be spared for many years to be amongst them . " The Visitors " vvas responded to by Bro . LEE , and other toasts given vvere "The Supper Committee" and " Our Host , Bro . Lilley . "

Laying The Foundation-Stone Of A New Masonic Hall.

LAYING THE FOUNDATION-STONE OF A NEW MASONIC HALL .

Although the Ashburton Lodge , No . 218 9 , was con : secrated in 1886 , its work has gone on so quietly and unostentatiously that its existence was almost forgotten by the outer world until the gth inst ., vvhen its first public function occurred on the occasion of laying a foundation-stone of the new Masonic Hall which is to

be its future home . For some time the brethren , in spite of the care and attention paid them in their present quarters at the Commercial Hotel , have felt desirous of following the example of other lodges in the Province of Devon by building a hall of their own for the exclusive purposes of Freemasonry , and at last

matters vvere brought to a climax by the most generous offer of Bro . H . Stevens , Treasurer of the lodge , to make the brethren a present of a piece of ground to build on in his field adjoining Hayeldene . The offer being gratefully accepted , plans and estimates vvere prepared , and on the 9 th inst . the building was

sufficiently advanced to have the foundation-stone laid in the north-east corner according to Masonic usage . At 4 . 30 the brethren ascended a temporary platform erected for the purpose , and Bro . the Hon . R . Dawson , P . M ., P . P . S . G . W ., the first W . M . of the new lodge in 1886 , having been invited to lay the stone , gave a short

address to those present on the objects of Freemasonry and the progress of the Ashburton Lodge . The stone vvas then raised by the workmen , whilst the Chaplain , the Rev . E . Pemvarne-Wellings , offered prayer , and various coins of the year's issue vvere deposited beneath , after which Bro . H . Stevens presented

Bro . Dawson with a trowel of ivory and silver , most elegantly chased , and inscribed as follows : " This trowel was presented to the Hon . R . M . W . Dawson , P . M ., P . Prov . G . S . W ., on his laying the foundationstone of the new Masonic Hall for the ' Ashburton ' Lodge , No . 218 9 , on the 9 th day of December , 1889 . "

Bro . DAWSON suitably acknowledged the gift of Bro . Stevens , and said it would be handed down in his family as an heirloom and a valued memento of a most interesting occasion . He then proceeded with the ceremony , and the stone vvas lowered to its resting place , where Bro . W . S . Gervis , M . D ., W . M . of the

lodge , proved it with the square , and the S . W . and J . W . tried it with level and plumb-rule , vvhen , being found accurate , Bro . Dawson declared it " well and truly laid " with three blows of the gavel , and a concluding prayer from the Chaplain closed the proceedings .

I he brethren then adjourned to Bro . Stevens's house , where his health as " Donor of the Site , " and the "The Healths of Bros , the Hon . R . Dawson and Gervis" vvere duly given and acknowledged , and all the brethren united in wishing health and prosperity to

the Ashburton Lodge , and success in its labours now so auspiciously begun . There vvere also present besides those mentioned in connection with the ceremony Bros . H . Steele , P . P . G . D . C ; J . Olver , P . P . G . S . B . ; Acock , S . W . ; Pengilly , J . W . ; Fraser , Sec . ; F . J . W . Crowe , S . D . ;

Laying The Foundation-Stone Of A New Masonic Hall.

G . C . Foot , J . D . ; Eales , Stwd . ; Furneaux , Tyler ; H . M . Firth , S . Toyer , E . Fearnley Tanner , R . E . Tucker , R . Ackerley , and several brethren of the Pleiades Lodge , No . 710 . In the evening the members of the lodge partook of a banquet at Bro . Ford ' s , when the usual loyal and

Masonic toasts were duly honoured . The following inscription . is to be engraved on the stone : "This foundation stone of the Ashburton Lodge , No . 218 9 , of A . F . and A . Masons , vvas laid on the 9 th day of December , 188 9 , by W . Bro . the Hon .

R . M . W . Dawson , founder and P . M ., P . Prov . G . S . W . Devon , and duly proved by W . Bro . W . S . Gervis , M . D ., W . M . and founder . Donor of site , Bro . H . Stevens , Treas . and founder . " The hall is to be ready for use early in the spring .

Gresham Life Assurance Society.

GRESHAM LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY .

Ihe report which the directors of the Gresham Life Assurance Society presented to the shareholders at the ordinary general meeting , on the ioth inst ., conclusively shows that their policy , as it has been carried out during the financial year ending on the 30 th June last , has borne good fruit . The society , under their

management , has been steadily improving its position year by year , and the last 12 months have witnessed a continuance of this progress . Out of 5923 proposals made for assurances , amounting in the aggregate to £ 1 , 9 62 , 784 , there were accepted no less than 5140 , the total of the policies thus granted being £ 1 , 629 , 946 .

Immediate annuities vvere also granted amounting to £ 1 3 , 395- The revenue from all sources amounted to . £ 773 , 14 ° , the sum of the new premiums being ^ 59 , 203 . The admitted claims on lite policies are set down at , £ 340 , 614 , and those on matured endowments at £ 79 , 12 9 , while the charge for the surrender of policies ,

including loans written off in respect of policies which had lapsed , was £ 62 , 867 . The result of the various operations of the year is that a sum of £ 158 , 262 has been added to the funds of the society , ' whose assets now represent an estimated realisable value amounting to £ 4 , 26 3 , 141 . These figures show , as we have said ,

that the policy which has been steadily pursued by the directors since the society was established , has been wisely conceived , and we have no doubt that in future years the results of their management will prove as beneficial to the shareholders as they have been for the year to which this report refers .

The Metropolitan Hospital.

THE METROPOLITAN HOSPITAL .

Among the numerous institutions in the various districts of London which are mainl y dependent for support on the contributions of the benevolent or the services they are prepared to render in other ways , few are entitled to so large a measure of public consideration as the Metropolitan Hospital , formerly

situated in Devonshire-square , Bishopsgate , but now established , and doing its work admirably , in the Kingsland-road , where until its erection some two or three years ago—if vve except the German Hospital at Dalston—no similar institution previously existed . The basis on which the work done by this hospital is

carried out is the provident system by which the poor people , who mainly constitute the population of . the neighbourhood , are enabled to secure medical attendance in the case of illness , or accommodation in the hospital itself on the payment regularly of a small sum . There can be no doubt about this being a

provident system , and being such , vve trust the well-to-do who , especially at this season of Christmas , are so generous in helping those who help themselves , will forward a contribution to this Metropolitan Hospital . It is greatly in need of funds . Since it was opened two years ago it has opened wards containing 7 6 beds , but it is large enough to accommodate double the

number . The number of its out-patients is very large , and those who respond to this appeal may be sure that their money will be well and beneficently spent . It should be added that Mr . Joseph Fry is Chairman , and Sir Edmund Currie , honorary Secretary of the hospital , while Mr . Bryer , to whom contributions should be forwarded , is the working Secretary .

The Patent Radiator And Plant Propagator.

THE PATENT RADIATOR AND PLANT PROPAGATOR .

To those of our readers who pride themselves on having their greenhouses in order , and always well furnished with choice plants in good condition , we strongly recommend the Uncle Sam Radiator and Plant Propagator which has recently been patented b y Messrs . Sam Deards and Co ., Limited , of Harlow ,

Essex , and Dashwood House , New Broad-street , E . C . It was recently exhibited in the Royal Agricultural Hall during Cattle Show week , and praise was bestowed upon it in all directions for its handiness , the thorough manner in which it does what it is intended to do , and the smallness of its cost . This Uncle Sam Radiator is

intended to heat greenhouses , and will at the same time propagate plants . It involves no trouble , does not need to be constantly looked after , and will go all night vvifhout attention . It can also be used for heating halls , billiard rooms , & c , the heat being produced by

a parraffin lamp , which is properly fitted to the Radiator . The price , including lamp and stand and with the propagator affixed , ranges from £ 2 2 s . 6 d . for one 1 foot 6 inches long to £ 7 Ss . 6 d . for one 6 feet long . The new patent may be seen at Messrs . Sam Deards and Go's premises , 16 , New Broad-street .