Provincial Grand Chapter Of Nottinghamshire.

Comp . Wil . WITHER BRAMSTON BEACH , Grand J ., said he was always glad to be of use in promoling the welfare of Freemasonry . It had been a pleasure to him and his companions io attend that day and assist in installing the Grand Superintendent . He congratulated Corrp . Judge William Masterman in having attained sohiyh a position in a province so nourishing

as , from what he had heard in Provincial Grand Lodge as well as Provincial Grand Chapter , Nottinghamshire evidently was , aid he hoped and believed that the province would continue to flourish under its new Grand Superintendent . On behalf of hims-lf and the other Grand Chapter Officers , he brgged to thank the chapter for their kind reception of the Grand Superintendent ' s proposal .

The report of the Auditors , showing a balance of £ 46 3 s . sd . in Messrs . I . and I " . C . Wright ' s Bank , was received and the ace nuns passed . Comps . T . Roberts , P . G . istAs ^ t . S ., and H . Hallam , P . Z ., wee reappointed Auditors for the ensuing year . The annual reports of the chapters of the province were read and presented . The annual report of the Prov . Grand Scribe E . was presented .

On the morion of PROV . GRAND SCRIBE E ., seconded by Comp . J . M . PERRY , P . G . P ., . £ 103 . 10 s . was voted to the Masonic Benevolent Institution , to be placed upon Comp . J . H . Bradwell ' s list as S eward to the next festival . On the motion of PROV . GRAND SCRIBE E ., seconded by Comp . J . T .

SPALDING , P . P . G . J ., £ 15 was voted towards the expenses of th ; meeting . On the motion of Comp . J . T . SPALDING , P . P . G . J ., seconded by Comp . C . B . TRUMAN , P . P . G . J ., Comp . Alfred Page , P . G . T ., was unanimously re-elected Treasurer . Comp . J . J . Turner was re-elected Janitor for the ensuing year . The following officers were appointed and

invested—Comp . Rev . A . ] . L . Dobbin , 402 ... ... Prov . G . H . „ G . H . Hibbert , 1852 ... ' ... ... Prov . G J . „ A . Stubbs , 47 , 402 , P . P . G . H . ... ... Prov . G . S . E . „ C . A . Bolton , 47 , 1909 ... ... Prov . G . S . N . „ A . Page , 411 ( elected ) ... ... Prov . G . Treas . ,, J . G . Martin , 411 ... ... ... Prov . G . Rpg . „ Rev . T . B . B . Ferris , 47 ... ... Prov . G . P . S . „ Col . J . Wright , 402 ... ... ... Prov . ist A . G . S .

„ S . Pegler , 1 S 02 ... ... ... Prov . 2 nd A . G . S . „ T . F . Walker , 1909 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ G . Alter , 1661 ... ... ... Prov .. G . Std . Br . „ J . H . White , 1852 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ N . Ashurst , 1435 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . ,, C Rogers , 47 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ J . P . W . Marx , 402 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . S . E . „ J . J . Turner ... ... ... Prov . G . Janitor . An invitation to hold the next annual meeting of Provincial Grand

Chapter at Newark was received from ihe Principals of the Alexander Chapter . Several of the other Principals . having spoken in favour of the annual meeting being held sometimes in the other towns ol the provinces where chapters are held ,

The GRAND SUPERINTENDENT promised to take the matter into consideration , and , if he thought it advisable , he would accept the invitation of the Alexander Chapter next year . There being no further business , Prov . Grand Chapter was closed , and the companions , to the number of 47 , adjourned to a banquet , after which

the usual Royal Arch toast list was duly honoured . Some excellent speeches were delivered by the Grand Officers and others , who congratulated the Grand Superintendent and the pro \ ince generally on the very prosperous condition of the Royal Arch Degree , and the very interesting and satisfactory meeting which had taken place .

Consecration Of The Leyton Lodge, No. 2626.

CONSECRATION OF THE LEYTON LODGE , No . 2626 .

This new lodge was consecrated on Tuesday , the 15 th instant , at the National School Rooms , Leyton . The Consecrating Officer was Bro . Edward Letchworth , Grand Secretary , who was assisted by Bros . Major C W . Cairell , P . G . S . B ., as S . W . ; James Boulton , G . Purst ., as J . W . ; Ven . Archdeacon Stevens , G . Chaplain , as Chaplain ; Frank Richardson , P . G . D ., as D . C ; and C . J . R . Tijou , P . A . G . P ., as I . G .

Among the other brethren present were—Bros . John Dipple , P . M . 159 8 ; W . Harris , P . M . 1662 ; G . W . Holmes , J . W . 1805 ; W . G . Shadrake , Sec . 1805 i A . S . Bird , S . D . 1805 ; E . J . Davey , P . M ., Sec . 193 ; W . T . Potts , P . M . 1805 ; F . Thornton , J . D . 1805 ; J . Young , 1805 ; R . W . Hunter , P . M . 1685 ; J . J . Keif , 1662 ; Robert Lamb , 860 ; D . Bartlett ; W . Reynolds J . W . 2184 ; W . Golding , Charles Bowmarker , J . | . Cumine , A . G .

Wilson , Charles H . Tanting , Edwin J . Morgan , William Sandle , F . G . Plowright , E . J . Turnbull , P . M . 1524 ; T . H . Procter , W . M . 1685 ; F . Smithies , 15411 C Reardward , 1598 ; Walter Gladding , 933 , 1816 ; W . H . Keddell , C . W . Mansfield , S . B . McClellan , Edwin Barn , C . Sim , H . Massey , P . M . 619 , 1928 ; W . J Bewels , H . Sadler , G . Tyler ; Edwin Hall , Sec . 2579 ; James W . Gibbs , and A Holmes , I . G . 2256 .

After the opening of the lodge , Bro . LETCHWORTH said it was unnecessary that he should occupy the time of the brethren for many moments with any words of his own . He was there by command of the M . W . G . M ., his Royal Highness ' s most humble representative , for the purpose of undertaking what was a very interesting , and at the same time , a

very solemn ceremony—the constitution of a new lodge and its dedication to the service of the Almighty ; and sincerely trusted that that new lodge which they were about to start might be the means of accomplishing all ihe objects the founders had in view , and also be the means of advancing the best interests of Masonry in that , if he might be allowed to call it so , suburb of London .

Archdeacon STEVENS , in delivering the oration , said : The occasion that had brought the brethren together was one full of interest to all who took part in it , and who valued the principles on which the Masonic Order was based , because it was giving another centre for spreading the tenets of the Order . ' Of late years

Freemasonry had made very rapid strides , and so far as numbers were concerned , the growth of Masonry must have struck everyone . But it was not so much the numbers as the spirit of the Order which was of importance , and the question was whether Masonry had increased in the effects produced by its teachings , and whether its spirit was manifest outside lodges , so that those who saw it

Consecration Of The Leyton Lodge, No. 2626.

might judge by its fruits . The Masonic Charities were the first point in which that might be seen ; and he would say to the founders of that new lodge that it was necessary on the introduction of new members to ascertain whether the new members were likely to be worthy of them by their conduct in society and in daily life . Again , the symbols used at the consccra ion of a lodge were not mere empty forms—the corn , the wine , and the oil were meant to represent the unity , the harmony , the joy , and the peace which should abound in the lodvc , while

the salt symbolised that friendship which they trusted they might never lose . And then the incense reminded them that without the blessings of the Most High all their works were in vain . In days like the present Masonry taught us loyal submission to those in authority . Some must rule and govern . It was the same in the execution of a building ; some must design , and others carry on the work ; the execution of the fabric depended on all ranks . So in Masonry , and so in the world at large ; all had to do their duty , whatever that duty might be however

humble , even to the laying of a brick ; but that one brick should be well and truly laid . fn Freemasonry , which was very practical , this truth came to them with special force . It showed how the 24 hours of the d , \ y were to be m , ide use of ; it led us on to that great principle to be just and upright , and that no slain was equal to the stain of falsehood and dishonour . Freenvisonry taught us that we had not reached the goal of knowledge . At a time when new discoveries were being made in art , science , and manufactures , it was well to acknowledge that

there was more yet to learn . Masonry taught us to be looking onward and upward and to strive for something higher and nobler . He hoped that the lodjre they had met to consecrate might be distinguished not only by the excellence of its working in lodge , but by its loyalty to the who'e fabric of Freemasonry . That this might be the beginning of a new building-up of Masonry in the neighbourhood of Leytonof Masonry based on the high and noble principles of the Craft—was the prayer , or should be the prayer , of all the founders of the lodge .

The lodge was then formally dedicated and constituted , and Bro . John Dipple , P . M . 1598 , was installed as VV . M . by Bro . Letchworth . Bro . Walter Harris , P . M . 1662 , was appointed to act for the first year as I . P . M . The cthrr brethren invested were Bros . G . W . Holmes , J . W . 1 S 05 S . W . ; W . G . Shadrake , Sec . 1805 , J . W . ; A . S . Bird , S D . 2805 Trca > . ; E . ) . Davey , P . M . and Sec . 193 , Sec ; W . T . Pats , P . M . 1805 SD ; F . Thornton , J . D . 1 S 05 . J . D . ; J . Young , 1805 , I . G . ; R . VV . Hunter , P . M . 1685 , DC ; J . J . Kell , 16 C 2 , A . D . C ; Robe t L- * mb , 860 , and D .

Bmlett , Stwds . ; and W . Procter , P . M . Tyler . After the delivery of the addresses , Bro . Letchworth was elected an honorary member of the lodge , and votes of thanks were passed to him and the ether Consecrating Officers . After some other business the lodge was closed , and the brethici adjourned to the Three Blackbirds to banquet . The music in lodge and after the banquet was under the direction of Bro . E . Chatterton , P . M ., the other artistes being Bros . II . J . Cnatterton , Ernest Jones , VV . Hiles-Smith , and VV . F . Kendall .

Bro . C . J . R . Ti . iou , P . A . G . P ., in responding ( o thetoastof "The Grand Officers , " said all those brethren endeavoured to show the interest they took in the Craft by taking part in whatever duty they might be called upon to perform . Among the highest were men like Archdeacon Stevens who were very much occupied in their ordinary professional and social duties , but still they

came among the brethren and it was a gr . at incentive to M isons to take up the wotk . That night the Grand Ch iplain had shown the Grand Secretary by his remarks the interest he look in Alasonry . As far a ; he ( IJ-o . Tij > u ) was concerned he was always ready to do anything for Freem tsonry , and he knew that feeling was carried out by all the Grand Lodge Officers . 1

Bro . DIPPLE , W . M ., gave the toast of " 'Ihe Consecrating Oflicers . ' The brethren had seen that evening hew the Grand Officers did iheir woik , and they had seen it in other lodges . It was a great pleasure to see them , and the brethren of the Leyton Lodge hoped to see them again . Bro . Archdeacon STEVENS , G . C , replying , said he should like to nolice the kind way in which Bro . Tijou had spoken of him . If he was high up in the Craft he had to thark Bro . Tijou for it . For that he had to express

his gratitude . The duties of a Grand Lodge Officer , if he did them , were not light or a s necure , but he undertook them and said he would try to do them . The present was the sixth consecration he had taken patt in , and he thought these few words would show that he did not lake the office as an ornamental thing , but with a great desire like ihe other Grand Officers , to do the work of forwarding Freemasonry . Some of the brethren mi ght have been at the launching of the ship . If so , they knew there was an awkwird sound when the dogshores were knocked away ; people were saying " She is

not going to move . " That had been the case that night , he thought the Grand Secretary was not coming , being detained by the fog . However , by a good genius he was guided there , and ihe awkward moment passed , and the ship had been launched , she had taken lo the water like a duck and he hoped would go forward successfully many jcars . That was what the Grand Officers looked forward to . The lodge had been successfully launched and had a trustwoithy crew . Might the lodge have a good voyage in the world ! If it had , that was sufficient thanks for the Grand Officers . Bro . Major C W . CARRELL also thanked the brethren .

Bro . WALTER HARRIS , acting I . P . M ., proposed "The W . M . " He said Bro . Dipple was very muth respected in Essex where Masonry was very strong and where there were a great nun . btr of thorough gocd distinguished Masons . There was no brother more lespectcd in the east end ( f London . He hoped the W . M . would be blessi d wilh good health during the coming year , that he might heve plenty of work to do , and that he might be spared very many years to look back wilh pride on that ni ght . It would be very nice for him if spared to be called the father of the lodge . He was a gcod worker as he had shown in the Ley Spring Lodge .

Bro . DIPPLE , W . M ., responding , said he hardl y knew what to say alter Bro . Harris' kind remarks . He was reminded of his initiation . Bro . Bear and Bro . Skelt took great interest in him , and he remembered on the ni ght of his initiation saying ; " VV . M . and Brothers , 1 thank you for drinking my health , and I am very pleased to think I am a Mason . " The words he used then—which he should not think of using now—were : " It will be my ambition to wield the hammer , " which hs now called the " gavel . " He had

done it in a lodge and gone through it , and now he felt more proud of b ^ ing first Master of that new lodge than he did when he was Master of his own lodge . He felt doubly proud . He did not seek tne office . Two brethren came to him and said they were going to found a lodge , and asked him to join them . He said '' Yis , with p leasure , if the-e is a chance of being D . of C" They told him they wanted him for VV . M ., and he said , " Put me down at once . " He was both proud and gratified , and he hoped he should be father of the lodge to a good miny Ma'ions .

Bros . A . S . BIRD and E . J . DAVEY responded to the toast of "The Treasurer and Secretary , " and Bros . BEAR and DALE to that of "The Visitors . " " The Officers' " toast was g ' . ven and responded lo , and th ; Tylei ' s toa . t brought the evening lo a close .