Festival Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

Masonic Charities that had ever been held in the Province of Hertfordshire . The Chairman , in proposing the toast of " Success to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , " entered at some length into its history , more especially of the period during which the scheme for the removal of the schools to Bushey

THE GRAND TREASURER . has been in progress . The announcement that although the cost of the new buildings had amounted to ^ 140 , 000 , they had been opened free from debt , and that the invested funds

of the Institution were larger than when the removal from Wood Green was first entertained was received with much gratification . Bro . McLeod , Secretary to the Institution , then read the list of subscriptions which had been the result of the efforts

of 853 Stewards . The total amount being ^ 3 6 , 393 is . 4 d ., of which London contributed , £ 15 , 906 7 s . 6 d ., and the provinces and Districts abroad , £ 20 , 4 86 13 s . iocl ., the amount being in excess of that of any previous Festival , except that of the Centenary celebration at the Albert Hall in 1898 . Following as it did a similar announcement in connection with the Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls

held in the previous month , the result is most gratifying , as indicating not only a maintenance of the normal income , but a largely increased and growing interest in the welfare

SOME OP THE HOYS . of these Institutions by the Craft at large . The figures announced were as follows : — London , represented by 4 67 Stewards ^ 15 , 906 7 6

The Provinces , represented by 376 Stewards ... ... ... ... 20 , 017 I 0 6 Foreign Stations , represented by 10 Stewards ... ... ... ... 4 6 9 3 4 Total £ 3 > 393 1 4

It is satisfactory to record that the whole of the arrangements for the Festival were carried out in the most perfect manner , nothing being wanting in the efforts of those responsible for the comfort and pleasure of those attending . It does not argue the possession of any special gift of prophecy to say that this is not the last of the Festivals to be held at Bushey .

Consecration Of The Beach Lodge, No. 2955.

Consecration of the Beach Lodge , No . 2955 .

THE consecration of the Beach Lodge , No . 2955 , named after the late Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., for over thirty years Grand Master of the Province of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight , took place recently at the Masonic Hall , Southampton , in the presence of a large gathering of brethren from all parts of the province . The ceremony was conducted

by the Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Sir Augustus F . Webster , Bart ., who was accompanied by his Deputy , Bro . Edgar Goble , and a large number of Present and Past Provincial Grand Officers . Bro . Ellice Beach , P . G . D ., son of the late P . G . M ., and who is one of the founders of the

lodge , came from the Continent specially to attend the meeting , and the Provincial Grand Master , by a happy inspiration , requested him to undertake the very first work in the afternoon ' s proceedings , with which request Bro . Beach complied . The beautiful ceremony of consecration was

splendidly worked by the Provincial Grand Master . The Provincial Grand Master said it gave him the greatest pleasure to attend there to consecrate a new lodge , which made the number of lodges in the province exactly fifty . He hoped Masonry would continue to flourish , and that the

number of lodges would go on increasing . He was particularly pleased to consecrate a lodge which was named after the late beloved Bro . Beach , who for over thirty years

was Grand Master of the province , and did magnificent work , and he should like to add what pleasure he had in seeing present the son of their late Provincial Grand Master , and in asking him to undertake the first work in connection with that interesting ceremony . After the ceremony of consecration , Bro . R . W . Denness

, P . M . 1780 , was installed by the Provincial Grand Master as Worshipful Master of the lodge , and the following officers were appointed , viz ., Bros . J . E . Adams , Acting I . P . M . ; T . A . A . Cleveland , S . W . ; C . E . Price , J . W . ; G . Woodford , P . M . 1780 , Treasurer ; A . Curtis , P . M . 1780 , Secretary ;

E . A . Lisle , S . D . ; J . A . Crowther , J . D . ; W . J . Feltham , I . G . ; W . J . Miller , P . M . 1461 , D . C . ; Lovell Stevens , P . M . 359 , Organist ; T . White and E . C . Jarvis , Stewards ; and Gilbert Henley , Tyler . Several votes of thanks were accorded , and the newly-installed Worshipful Master handed to the

Provincial Grand Master a cheque for £ 20 towards the Perpetual Presentation to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , which is to be purchased ( a Boys' School Presentation having already been bought ) as a memorial to the late Bro . Beach .

After the lodge was closed , the brethren assembled at the South Western Hotel , where , to the number of nearly a hundred , they partook of a banquet .