Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Middlesex.

The interesting ceremony of consecration was ably performed by Bro . - | . A . B . Cook , Prov . G . M ., assisted by Bros . A . McDowall , P . A . G . D . C , 5 v . S . G . W ., as S . W . ; G . Ward Verry , P . G . I . G ., as J . W . ; Rev . Sussell Finlay , as Chap . ; C F . Matier , P . G . W ., G . Sec , as D . C . ; A . Stewart Brown , J . G . D ., P . ov . G . Sec , as I . G . ; and F . Bevan , G . Org .,

Org . Lodge having b : en opened , and a hymn sung , the PROV . GRAND M ASTER addressed the brethren on the motive of the meeting , and expressed i , is great pleasure that a new lodge , started under such excellent auspices—, vas about to be started in the Province of Middlesex . He congratulated he founders on the selection of Bro . W . A . Scurrah as the first W . Master , md wished the new lodge every success .

The petition and warrant were read , and the brethren" having signified their approval of the officers named , an oration was delivered by the acting Chap lain . The ceremony was then proceeded with , and the new lodge was solemnly dedicated and constituted . Bro . C . F . Matier , G . Sec , assumed the chair , and installed Bro . W . A .

scurrah as the first W . Master . The following officers were appointed : Bros . H . S . Graham , M . P ., S . W . ; H . Longman , J . W . ; Capt . C . J . Knightley , G . S . B ., S . O . ; J . Irvine , M . O . ; W . M . Stiles , P . G . B ., Treas . ; A . H . Scurrah , P . G . Stwd ., Sec . ; Lewis , S . D . ; Sparkes , Org . ; Herbert , I . G . ; and C Edmonds , P . M ., Tyler .

The W ORSHIPFUL MASTER , in moving a hearty vote of thanks to the Prov . Grand Master , referred to the admirable manner in which the ceremony had been performed . They all knew what a kind hearted and genial man Col . Cook was , and they were delighted to see him present . On behalf of the founders , the W . M . promised him their best support , and in : onclusion , moved that the Prov . Grand Master should be elected an hon . member and presented with a founder ' s jewel .

The proposition was seconded by Bro . W . M . STILES , and carried unanimously . The PROV . G . MASTER expressed his thanks and said that was only the second occasion on which he had performed the ceremony of consecration . He should wear the jewel with pleasure in memory of the occasion whenever he visited a lodge in the province .

A vote of thanks was accorded the rest of the Consecrating Officers , and they were also elected honorary members . A Committee was elected to frame the by-laws , and the lodge was closed . Provincial Grand Lodge was next opened by _ the Prov . Grand Master , and the minutes having been read by the PROV . G . SECRETARY , they were unanimously confirmed .

The report of the Committee of General Purposes was read by Bro . G . J . THOMAS and showed a considerable increase in the province , and good balances in hand on the General and Benevolent Funds . Bro . MCDOWALL proposed that the report should be received and adopted , and this was unanimously agreed to . On the motion of Bro . Capt . C J . KNIGHTLEY , Bro . Major Clifford Probyn was unanimously re-elected as Prov . Grand Treasurer .

The following Provincial Grand Officers were appointed and invested : Bro . j . E . Lane , P . M . 448 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ W . A . Scurrah , W . M . 494 ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ G . Gregory , W . M . 485 , P . G . Stwd . ... Prov . G . M . O . „ G . A . Corderoy , W . M . 3 ... ... Prov . S . G . O . „ F . Bonney , W . M . 181 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . O . „ Clifford Probyn , 44 S , G . Treas . ... ... Prov . G . Treas .

„ j . Miln Small , W . M . 448 ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ A . Stewart Brown , P . M . 44 S , P . G . D . ... Prov . G . Sec . „ W . Metcalfe , P . M . 284 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ W . Watkins , P . M . 350 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ Capt . Knightley , P . M . 284 , P . A . G . D . C . ... Prov . G . D . C . „ A . J . Duch , W . M . 350 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ F . Humphreys , P . M . 199 ... ... Prov . G . S . B .

„ H . R . Stephens , W . M . 199 ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ J . Bayne , 485 ... ... .. Prov . G . Org . 1 , H . Barrow , W . M . 173 ... ... ... Prov . G . I . G . 11 H . Longman , 494 ... ... ... Prov . G . Stwd . „ F . G . Mitchell ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler .

There being no further business for transaction , the Prov . Grand Lodge was Iormall y closed . A banquet was subsequently held under the presidency of the Provincial Orand Master . The banquet was served under the personal superintendence of Bro . ueale , and reflected the highest credit on the establishment .

" The Queen and Mark Masonry " and " H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., " were the first toasts afterwards honoured . In proposing " The Pro Grand Master , Deputy Grand Master , and the r « t of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " the PROV . GRAND MASTER : ^ P ress ed his pleasure at being supported by so many distinguished Grand Ulhcers , including Bro . Loveland Loveland , the President of the General koard .

h ' rw' L , 0 V 12 LANU LOVELAND , President General Board , said he felt I'gnl y honoured at having been selected to reply in the presence of his superior officer—Bro . Matier . He had seen Lords Euston and Dungarvan ° tn perform the ritual in an exemplary manner , setting a splendid example io other brethren who were not perhaps so busilengaged He felt quite

y . P'eased when he saw Bros . Col . Cook and Matier perform the ritual , for , ^ eing busil y employed in matters not so congenial , he found it difficult to do tip R ° rk in ' direction . He devoted what time he could to preside at Th p rt * ' * found it interesting work , and the brethren kind and genial . •e Grand Secretarv took all the Rfinpvnlent work off his hanrU nnrl with .

the 11 ° V ^ . ' er ne did not know what they should do , and the success of Pro r val was '" a measure due to his efforts . He congratulated the not 1 u ^ aster on tne new lodge started that day , feeling sure it would r „ 0 " be a powerful lodge but perfect in its ritual and working . With Kartt to the W . M . of that lodee , Bro . Scurrah , he was pleased to find so

Scurh •ed a Mason appointed to that chair . He had worked with Bro . great '" Craft ° " lhe Board of General Purposes and had seen the able ' nter est he took in the work , and he hoped the new lodge under such irection would become an ornament to Mark Masonry in general . Maste ' '' F 0 U - R CoCKBURN S ave tne toast of " The R-W . Prov . Grand 'hecha a f nc J 'd hei had the honour of seeing Colonel Cook installed in his ow ' •j P rovmce i and on that memorable occasion he congratulated , in genern" " ' the Prov'nce of Middlesex on having so efficient , able , and us a ruler . His Royal Highness the M . W . Grand Master could have

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Middlesex.

selected no brother more capable of representing the best interests of Masonry than the present Prov . Grand Master . He was desired by the distinguished brother who had been placed in the chair of the new lodge to express to the Prov . Grand Master his delight at the manner in which the duties were carried out that day . He had also to add the next toast with that and include " The Dep . Prov . G . M . and the rest of the Prov . Grand Officers , Present and Past . "

The PROV . GRAND MASTER thanked Bro . Cockburn for his very kind remarks . He had entered upon his second period of three years as their Prov . Grand Master , and no greater compliment could be paid to a brother than to be re-elected , for it showed that his efforts had been appreciated by the brethren in the province . Personally , he did his best by visiting the lodges , not only to find out what the province wanted , but also what was

good for the province , and in doing so he tried to carry out in every way the wishes of the brethren . The selection of officers was a most difficult task , and in Middlesex there was a certain system of promotion . A small province like theirs did not require that every officer appointed should be a fresh one , and he hoped that those appointed to subordinate offices would not think that was all they were worth , for if they fulfilled their duties they

would receive a higher position the following year . That night they were in a somewhat peculiar position . He was asked to consecrate the St . Pancras Lodge , and thought it would be a good opportunity for holding the Prov . Grand Lodge . By the courtesy of the W . M . of the new lodge , he had been enabled to hold his Prov . Grand Lodge , and Bro . Scurrah had also supported him at the banquet . They knew what a busy man the Deputy Prov . G . M . —Sir Reginald Hanson , M . P ., was—but he had sent an

assurance how sorry he was he could not be present . He ( the Prov . G . M . ) wished to take that opportunity of thanking his officers for their assistance , and especially the Prov . G . Sec , Bro . Stewart Brown . The numbers in the province during the past year had increased , and the new lodge-had been added to the roll . He had also been asked to grant permission for another lodge , which would , he hoped , be accomplished during the next 12 months . On behalf of himself , his Deputy , and his officers , he begged to thank them for the kind and flattering way in which the toast had been received .

The PROV . GRAND MASTER next gave "The Lodges in the Province , " and said it had always been his endeavour to arrange that the Provincial Grand Officers of the old Province of Middlesex and Surrey should become officers of the Province of Middlesex . The Chaplain of the evening was a member of the old province , but they would gladly welcome him as a member of a lodge in Middlesex . In coupling the toast with the name of the W . M , of the new lodge , he again thanked Bro . Scurrah for the courtesy shown in every way .

Bro . W . A . SCURRAH , Prov . J . G . W ., thanked the Prov . Grand Master for his kind remarks . He had known Col . Cook for some years , and could honestly say there was no Mason he respected more highly . Mention had been made of the old province , of which he was a member for many years , and , as ajProv . Grand Officer , served under their respected and revered chief , the late Sir Francis Burdett . At last he had joined the new Province

of Middlesex , and had been honoured by the appointment of Prov . J . G . W . He assured the Prov . Grand Master that he would find no more devoted adherent or more devoted servant of the Prov . Grand Lodge than himself , for he would always do his utmost to support the Prov . Grand Master and the integrity of the province . The members of the St . Pancas Lodge were deeply grateful for the consecration of the lodge , and hoped to be not the least energetic in the province .

Bro . W . M . STILES proposed " The Mark Benevolent Fund , " and alluded to the invaluable services rendered by Bro . C . b \ Matier , the Grand Secretary . Bro . C . F . MATIER , P . G . W ., Grand Sec , replied , and said that as that was the first meeting he had addressed since the recent Festival they would excuse him for being a little jubilant , that there had been collected the

largest sum of money ever given to the Mark Benevolent Fund . The record established by Lord Euston had been broken and no doubt an attempt would be made to beat the present one . They had never had an election and he hoped they never would , for the expense would be as much as would educate three children or give an annuity to two or three old people for a year . They had Xi 6 , ooo invested in the most undoubted security—the 2 } per cent ., so

that they knew exactly the permanent income . They were secure in the knowledge that the hearts of the great body of Mark Masons were never appealed to in vain on behalf of the Fund . He was glad to say the W . M . of the new lodge , Bro . Scurrah , would represent it as a Steward at the next festival and hoped the members would loyally support him . " The Visitors " was submitted by Bro . W . A . SCURRAH , and replied to by Bro . Rev . RUSSELL FINLAY , after which the Prov . Grand Tyler , Bro .

MITCHELL , gave the concluding toast . The large number of brethren present included Bros . Lord Portarlington , Loveland Loveland , Balfour Cockburn , H . J . Lardner , Dr . W . Lawrance , Captain C . J . Knightley , W . A . Scurrah , W . M . Stiles , G . Ward Verry , A . McDowall , Di . Stewart Brown , Rev . Russell Finlay , F . Bevan , G . Gregory , J . Speller , W . T . Tyler , J . J . Thomas , M . Tuck , H . Higgins , W . Metcalfe , Dr . J . H . Frye , W . Ramsay , J . Bayne , and many others .

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , in a spirit of fair play to ail , to permit—within certain necessary limitstree discussion .

THE REMOVAL OF THE BOYS' SCHOOL . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Will you kindly permit me to intimate , through your columns , to the Subscribers to this Institution that the "Statement of reasons for the removal of the Boys' School" is now under the consideration of the Board of Management , and will be issued to each Subscriber with the voting papers on September Sth .

Thanking you in anticipation of your courtesy , I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours faithfully and fraternally , J . M . McLEOD , London , W . C , July 30 th , Secretary .

THE QUEEN has been graciously pleased to present a handsomely-framed portrait of herself , with the Royal signature appended , to the Royal Hospital , Richmond , Surrey , of which she is Patron .