Consecration Of The Charles Dickens Lodge, No. 2757.

W . M . said that Bro . W . H . Bailey , P . G . Treas ., had conferred a great mark of favour upon the Iodge by acting as I . P . M . Bro . W . H . BAILEY , P . G . Treas ., in response , said that both the Pro G . M . and Dep . G . M . were banded together in wishing to place Masonry

in the position which it ought to occupy . Masonry was an exact science and they should bring the best men they could into it . They believed they had in Masonry the best governing body in the whole world . Masonry was universal and would continue so and this lodge would prove a shining example of its principles .

The W . M . next gave " The R . W . Prov . G . Master , " and said he was glad to hear the brethren receive it so enthusiastically . The progress made was owing to the genial and kindhearted manner in which the Prov . G . Master met the brethren in the province . The ttatement made in the lodge as to the progress in Essex was most satisfactory , and they would continue to progress until Essex was one of the largest provinces . He found that

the amount given by Essex to the Masonic Charities had increased annually , and he hoped that this lodge would have a good record as the youngest lodge at present in the province . The R . W . PROV . G . MASTER said he hardly knew how to express h s thanks to the W . M . and brethren . The kind reception given was not unknown to him in the province , because they were always kind to him , and overlooked his shortcomings . He had already said how honoured he felt

in consecrating the 44 th lodge in Essex . He had been their Prov . G . Master some years now , and Masonry had made great strides owing to the fact that he had had the most loyal body of Prov . G . Officers that any Prov . G . Master was ever supported by . It was with pride that he looked back at the large sums of money gone from Essex to the Charities , and he trusted that this lodge , starting under such excellent auspices , would uphold ths great principles of Charity .

" The Dep . Prov . G . Master and the Prov . G . Officers " was next given by the W . M ., who said that Bro . Railing , the Prov . G . Secretary , came down to look at the place , and went away satisfied that everything was in order , and it was marvellous how much time that brother gave to Masonic work .

Bro . R . WOODHOUSE , Prov . S . G . W ., in reply , said that the offices of the Prov . J . G . W . and himself were sinecures , for they were like butterflies , going from lodge to lodge sipping of the best . Not the least pleasant of their visits had been the consecration that day . Bro . Ralling deserved every credit for the manner in which he had managed the five consecrations this year , and Bro . Lucking always proved himself an able D . of C . He thanked them all for the charming entertainment and music , and for the welcome given them .

Bro . T . J . RALLING , Prov . G . Sec , remarked that he had heard it said in private lodges by Prov . Grand Officers that they did not know what work was attached to their office . That could not be said of the officers in Essex , for he had been afraid that the amount of work would have worn out the present Prov . Grand Officers . When the Prov . Grand Master

took office there were 700 Masons in the province , and there were now 2297 . They were all proud and pleased to be under such a worthy Prov . Grand Master , and were gratified at his appointment as Deputy Grand Master . He hoped that when the Prov . Grand Lodge met at Tilbury the Prov . G . M . would honour them with his presence .

"The W . Master" was proposed by the PROV . GRAND MASTER , who said they must all have been struck with the admirable manner in which the W . M . performed his duties in the lodge , and presided in such a courteous and hospitable manner over the gathering . It had never been his privilege to be more cordially or bounlifuly entertained Before the meeting opened

a very distinguished brother said he was about to give up house keeping , as there were so many lodges that he was always dining out . He shared very much those feelings , as he was dining with another lodge on the next night . It had given him great pleasure to propose that toast , for the W . M . was well known in Masonry , and he hoped he would have a pleasant year of office .

Br o . J . T . DORMER , P . M . 1571 , W . M ., expressed his thanks . He would say nothing about himself , but ask them to wait until the end of his year to see if he had carried out his duties to their satisfaction . He felt exceedingly proud to be the first W . M ., for the founders had rallied round

him , so that not one penny of the founders' fees would be spent in furnishing the lodge . They , therefore , started under happy auspices . He was pleased to propose his own son for initiation , and in his Stewardship for the Old People he had already a list of 45 guineas j but he wished to see it increased to 200 guineas .

"The Visitors" and other toasts followed , after which many of the brethren drove back to Buckhurst Hill , and thence by train to London . The musical arrangements were ably carried out by Bros . A . Strugnell , J . Kilt , Tebbutt , and H . Schartau .

Entertainment At The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ENTERTAINMENT AT THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The annual summer entertainment to the annuitants in residence at the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution at Croydon was given oa the 13 th inst ., and the courtesy of invitation was extended by the Committee of Management and Bro . James Terry , the Secretary , to a large body of the friends and supporters of the Institution . As , hosvever , it was in the very height of the season , and business being exceedingly brisk , a great number of brethren wero unable

to attend on account of their public avocations , and among those was thc very popular and sympathetic Treasurer , Bro . J . A . Farnfield . But he was not absent without letting the company know that it was entirely against his will , and a telegram from him was received by Bro . Terry on the premises expressing Bro . Farnfield ' s regret at his absence , and explaining the cause . The piity was a small one , but , nevertheless , very enthusiastic , and entered heartily into the spirit of the meeting . The assembly consisted of Bro . George Allen , P . M . 144 ,

and Miss Allen ; Bro . H . A . Tobias , Bro . and Mrs . Terry , Mrs . Lilian Skinner , Miss Mary L . Raikes , Miss Clara F . Newton , Mrs . W . R . McKay , Mrs . Edna Warren , Mrs . Helena Cooper , Bro . John Oldis , Mrs . Ellen M . Verrell , Bro . and Mrs . Hickman , Bro . W . H . Hulbert , Bro . and Mrs . George F . Cook , Bro . George Tarran , P . M . and Sec . 1928 , and Mrs . Tarran ; Bro H . and Miss Massey , Bro . John G . Stevens , Mrs . Strong , Mrs Foote , Bro . E . J . Anning , C . C , and Mrs . and Miss Anning ; and Dr . Strong .

Entertainment At The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

Host of these proceeded from London by one of the afternoon trains of the South-Eastern Railway , to which special saloon carriages were attached . - On the . arrival of the party at the Institution they were hearuly received by Bros . Terry ' and j . G . Stevens , and shortly afterwards sat down to an elegant and substantial tea , which was presided over by Bro . H . A . Tobias , and amongst the ladies who took charge of the urns were Mrs . Terryjand Mrs . George Tarran . The annuitants

were presented by the Supreme Council with packets of tea for , 3 i old ladies , and of tobacco for nins old brethren . Shortly before tea was finished , a telegram was handed to Bro . Terry , which , on opening , he announced was sent by Bro . James Stephens , P . Dep . G . D . of C , who was attending the Prov . Grand Lodge of Buckinghamshire at Slough . Bro . Terry read the telegram , which was as follows : " Hope you are better to-day . ' Hearty good wishes ' to all . Got 50 guineas . "

Bro . H . A . TOBIAS thereupon rose , and said although it was not customary at these summer entertainments to make any speeches at all , he was going to detain the company , but only tor a very short time , with a few remarks , which were entirely suggested by some words in Bro . Stephen's telegram , " Hope you are better to-diy . " At the meeting of the Committee of Management , only the day before , at which Bro . Stephens was present , Bro . Terry was so ill that Bro . Farnfield , who was presiding , insisted that Bro . Terry should take a rest

immediately . In this all the Committee concurred , and he was told to take a short sea voyage . Bro . Terry opposed , but the brethren were firm . They even wanted him not to come to the present meeting , but Bro . Terry was obstinate on * this point , and he was among them now , although , as the company could see , he was not at all in a fit state to undergo any exertion . But the sea voyage he was going to undertake , and on Saturday he would start by one of the Carron Com * . pany ' s steamers for a voyage from London to the north , and so on round

Scotland and back to London . Everyone at the table would with him ( Bro . Tobias ) , wish him a pleasant voyage , and hope that atter that short trip which would last but a few days , he would be among his brethren and family again quite restored to health . ( Hear , hear . ) It was the sincere wish of everybody . ( Hear , hear . ) Bro . J AMES TERRY , in acknowledging these remarks , begged to thank Bro . Tobias very heartily for them . He , himself , certainly hoped and trusted that in

the course of a fortnight he should be back again in all his wonted beauty , health ; and good looks . ( Hear , hear . ) The brethren knew that he did not shirk work . He used to say he had no time to be ill ; but last week he got a chill , and on Wednesday night he did not know whether he was in bed or out of bedi Although he had worked hard , yet he felt that his work was not quite completed , and he hoped that he should be some years yet spared to appreciate the hearty and cordial good wishes of the company . ( Cheers . )

This concluded the tea course , and the ladies and brethren then visited the annuitants in their homes . At hall' past six , residents and visitors Were entertained to a musical and variety production under the direction and supervision of Bro , Herbert Schartau , P . Prov . G . Org . Surrey , the performers being Miss Jeannie Allester , the Schartau Part Singers ( Bros . Herbert Schartau , Frank Tebbutt , William Fell , and George Stubbs ) . Mr . Charles Capper gave whistling solos , Mr . Frederic Upton told humorous tales , and together with Mrs . Frederick Upton , conducted some humorous sketches . The following is the programme with the encores omitted * .

Part I . — Trio , " Wine the magician ; " ballad , " Idle words . Miss Jeannie Allester ; humorous scenette , Mr . and Mrs . Frederic Upton ; song , " Nita Gitana , " Mr . Geo . Stubbs , Swedish melody , "Come , zephyr gently , " and humorous quartet , * 'The menu , " the Schartau Part Singers ; a few tales , Mr . Frederic Upton ; ballad , " Take a pair of sparkling eyes , " Mr . Frank Tebbutt ; whistling solo , '' The special messenger galop , " Mr . Charles Capper ; humorous scenette , Mr . and Mrs . Frederic Upton ; and madrigal , ' * This pleasant month , ot May , " the Schartau Part Singers .

Part 11 . — -Part song , " Pretty maiden , " the Schartau Part Singers ; new song , " May day , " Miss Jeannie Allester ; old English ballad , " The lass that loves a sailor , " Mr . Wm . Fell ; whistling solo , " I'll sing thee songs of Araby , " Hr . Charles Capper ; part song , " Come live with me , " and humorous quartet , " Little Tommy went fishing , " the Schartau Part Singers ; old ballad , " In sheltered vale , " Mr . Geo . Stubbs ; humorous song ( selected ) , Mr . Herbert Schartau ; plantation melody , " Come , my dusky darling , " Miss Jeannie Allester j and part song , " When evening ' s twilight . "

In ihe interval between Parts 1 and 2 refreshments were handed round , and at the conclusion of the entertainment , Bro . TKIUIY expressed the thanks of all present to the entertainers . Bro . SCHAKTAU acknowledged them , and repeated the wishes which everyone felt for Bro . Terry ' s speedy restoration to health . The party , after wishing a hearty good night to the annuitants , returned to town , thoroughly satisfied with the enjoyable evening they had spent .

Board Of Benevolence.

BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE .

The monthly meeting of the Board ot Benevolence was held on Wednesday evening at Freemasons' Hall . Bro . D . D . Mercer , Senior Vice-President , presided in the absence of Bro . J . H . Matthews , President ; Bro " : Henry Garrod , P . G . P ., Junior Vice-President , acted as Senior Vice-President ; arid Bro . C . J . R . Tijou , P . A . G . P ., 'as Junior Vice-President . Bros . Edward

Letchworth , Grand Secretary , William Dodd , G . S . Recknell , and Henry Sadler , Grand Tyler , represented the Grand Secretary ' s department Among the other brethren who attended were Bros . Charles Jones , P . G . D . Henry A . Tobias , P . G . Std . Br . ; George Graveley , P . G . P . ; Charles J . R . T . jou , P . A . G . P . ; W . G . Fisher , A . G . P . ; E . W . Nightingale , F . W . Hancock , S . H .

Goldschmidt , W . Kipps , Walter Martin , P . A . G . P ., - Charles Henry Stone , W . Wills . Edmund Rosenthal , P . M . 2190 ; Felix Kite , A . J . Shelley , W . C . Lupton , H . Dehane , Frank Evans , J . W . Burgess , H . L . Pridmore , Alfred Allen , R . W . Ker , I . l ' . M . 194 , H . Massey , H . Oppenheimer , George Weaver , Lawrence Steele , I . Molyneux Jenkins , Frank Jarrett , Alfred M . Bletchley , W . C . Lane , R , W . James , E . de Blunk , J . VV . Folkard , Walter Sykes , and Uagot Read .

The brethren first confirmed recommendations which were made at the June meeting to the Grand Master to the amount of £ 200 , to be given to six petitioners in sums of , £ 30 and ^" 40 respectively . The new list comprised 30 cases , which came from the London District , Devonport , N . Z ., Welchpool , Kingstown , St . Vincent , W . I ., Stokesley , Hampton Court , Christchurch , N . Z ., Dover , Barrowin-Furness , Rye , East Grinstead , Bradford , Manchester , Preston , Maidstone ,

Umballa , Newport , I . W ., Ranikhet , Jersey , and Egutpoorah . Two cases were withdrawn at the request of the petitioners themselves . The remaining cases were awarded a total of . £ 690 . Two petitioners were recommended to Grand Lodge for £ 50 each , seven were recommended to the Grand Master for £ 4 , 1 each , and tour for , £ 30 each . Eight grants were made for £ 20 each , and three tor , £ 10 each . One petitioner , the widow of a brother who was lost in the Stella , and to whom a posthumous child has been born , was granted £ 40 .

H . R . H . IHE PRINCE OF WALES , attended by the Horn Sidney Cteville , reache d London on Monday from Compton Place , Eastbourne .