Masonic Calendars.

Rose Croix 4 , full particulars being given of all the officers of all these Bodie ' . numbering about 120 , and the Table of Votes for the Central Masonic Charities show the magnificent total of 14 , 515 , includine *; the Mark for 1494 . During the list s " x years ending 1895 the province has subscribed nearly £ 16 000 to . these Institutions . Bes'des particulars as to all the finances of

the province , the by-laws of the Prov . Grand Lodge and Chapter are printed , so that the manual is well worthy of its name , and Bro . Hitchens has done his work most admirably . My article , with additions , on the Books of Constitutions , 1723—1896 is also printed therein , so that surely is enough for a shilling !

Calendar for Middlesex . One of the handiest , best arranged , and most original Masonic Calendars is that for Middlesex , edited by the esteemed Prov . G . Secretary , Bro . Howard H . Room , and the Prov . G . S . E ., Bro . William H . Lee . There are 120 pages of closely-printed matter respecting the 42 lodges and the 13 chapters in the province . The capital table , showing the number of

members from 18 92 ( 916 ) indicates that 1896 is slightly less than 1892 ( 929 ) , but more than 1894-5 . The table of the chapters also shows a decrease from 290 companions in 1892 to 256 in 1 S 9 6 . No doubt its close relationship with the Metropolis leads to the comparatively small average of the membership , being under 25 per lodge—possibly the lowest in England . The details , official and general , are most interesting and useful , and are so arranged

and ably condensed , that , notwithstanding the small size of the Calendar , all the particulars are easily found , and leave nothing to be desired . The " Masonic Notes , " & c , compiled from the Book of Constitutions and the provincial by-laws , for the guidance of Masters and Secretaries of lodges , are models of their kind , and simply invaluable for officers of lodges . Similar hints and notes would be most helpful in all Masonic Calendars . Bro . Room undoubtedly is a most competent editor . W . J . H .

Consecration Of The St. George Lodge No. 2616.

CONSECRATION OF THE ST . GEORGE LODGE No . 2616 .

It is with great pleasure we note the establishment of the above lodge in the Island of St . Vincent , West Indies , on the evening of Wednesday , the 25 th November last . The lodge will be worked under the jurisdiction of the District Grand Master of Barbados , Bro . John Locke , whereby the officers of the lodge partake of District Grand Lodge honours , which are otherwise unobtainable by brethren whose lodges work under direct responsibility to the Grand Lodge .

There was formerly a lodge called the Victoria at work in the Island , but it died out some 20 years ago , and we are told it was quite a feature of the occasion to see the collar jewels of the old lodge again in use . They are of silver , and in capital preservation . There was also en evidence the old Bible and a box of working tools of the old lodge presented to the lodge . One or two of the founders of the old lodge were present at the inaugural meeting .

Owing to the indisposition of the District Grand Master of Barbados , the ceremonies of consecrating and constituting the lodge were performed by Bro . R . J . Clinckett , P . M . 2253 and 196 , P . D . S . G . W . of Barbados , who was accompanied by the following District Grand Officers : Bros . A . S . Bryden . W . M . 2253 , D . J . G . W . ; J . Walton , W . M . 2196 , D . G . Purst . ; J . J . Warner , P . D . S G . W ., D . G . D . C . * , V . Hauschell , P . M . 2253 , as D . G . Chap . ; the Hon . G . R . Le Hunte , D . G . S ' . d . Br . ; and Peter P . Spencer , S . W . 2196 , as D . G . S . B .

The brethren having assembled in the lodge room , the District Grand Officers entered in procession , and Bro . R . J . Clinckett ascended the dais , took the chair , and formally opened ths lodge , declaring it open for the purpose of being consecrated and dedicated , and he then produced the charter , which had been entrusted to him by the D . G . M . of Barbados , and

called on the Acting Secretary to read his commission under the seal of the District Grand Lodge of B ubados , signed by the D . G . M ., by virtue of which he was empowered to perform the ceremonies of consecrating and constituting the lodge . The Acting D . G . Chaplain , Bro . V . HAUSCHELL , then delivered an excellent and practical oration , at the call of the Consecrating Officer , which was heartily applauded by the brethren .

The ceremonies of consecrating and constituting the lodge were then carried out in their fullest entirety as prescribed in the recognised programmes by Bro . Clinckett . Bro . J . J . Warner then assumed the chair as Installing Master , and the installation of the W . M . and investiture of the office bearers were then carried out .

Bro . CLINCKETT , in responding to the vote of thanks by the lodge to the D . G . M . and D . G . Officers , said that , having regard to the zeal and ability of the founders , as well as their social status , he would have no hesitation in reporting to the D . G . M . on his return to Barbados that , in his opinion , the lodge would have a prosperous career .

The following are the first officers of the lodge . * Bros . D . S . Osmint , P . D . G . W . Gibraltar , W . M . ; his Honour H . L . Thompson ( Administrator ) , S . W . ; H . R . Melville , P . D . G . Sec . Barbados , J . W . ; Jones ( member of t ^ e old lodge ) , S . D . ; and the Hon . F . C . W . Durrant , Sec . The other officers were left open for a future meeting .

The lodge was then clos ? d , and the brethren adjourned to the banqueting hall , and partook of a sumptuous repast . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were afterwards given and duly responded to . After " Auld lang syne " had been sung , the brethren separated to the inspiriting air of the National Anthem .

Masonic Ball At Wycombe.

MASONIC BALL AT WYCOMBE .

We congratulate the Wycombe Lodge on the immense success of the first attempt to provide an evening ' s entertainment for their lady friends . Few gatherings in Wyco . mbe'have passed off with more eclat than the " ladies' evening , " which , on the initiative of the W . M . of the Wycombe Lodge , Bro . J . J . Simcox ,

Masonic Ball At Wycombe.

took place at the Masonic Rooms , Amersham Hill , on Tuesday evening , the 5 th inst . When the matter was first brought before the lodge by the W . M . a few weeks ago , it was very heartily taken up by most of the brethren , a strong working Committee , consisting of the officers of the lodge and Bro . Rutland , was at once appointed , and neither expense nor trouble was spared to make the gathering a

memorable one in the annals of the lodge . The applications for tickets were numerous ; but , in view of the limited nature of the accommodation , the Committee wisely decided to keep the number of invited guests to as nearly 70 as possible . As a matter of fact , about 80 ladies and gentlemen assembled in the hall on the 5 th instant—1 number which , while comfortably filling the room , did

not entail overcrowding . The fact that the brethren and their Masonic friends were arrayed in full Masonic regalia—aprons , collars , and jewels—combined with the handsome and many-coloured dresses of the ladies , made together a most charming and , at times , even a brilliant spectacle . The whole building was brought iuto requisition for the purposes of the gathering , and had been most tastefully decorated and carpeted for the occasion .

The proceedings commenced at eight o ' clock with a capital miscellaneous entertainment in the assembly room , which had been most elegantly arranged as a drawing-room , well carpeted , and filled with comtortable fauteuils and easy chairs , and gaily festooned with flags , the handsome lodge banner holding the place of honour over the prettily-draped trellis-work arrangement , which hid the front of the alcove . The entertainment was sustained by three very clever

London artistes , including Mr . Trefelyn David a capital tenor ; Mr . Broughton Black , baritone ; and Mr . T . G . Clare , a sketch entertainer and mimic . The programme opened with a pianoforte solo , " Alice , " capitally played by Mr . Clare . Then Mr . David gave a charming intepretation of Clay ' s well-known song , " I'll sing thee songs of Araby , " being followed by Mr . Broughton Black , in a spirited rendition of that excellent song , " The Bandolero . " Mr . T . G . Clare

then vastly amused the company with a very amusing musical sketch , A Christmas Pantomime , " after which Mr . David was loudly applauded for his exquisite singing of " Dream Voices . " Mr . Broughton Black concluded the first portion of the vocal programme by a capital rendering of " I ' m a roamer . " After the interval we had a capital rendition of a tenor and baritone duet by Messrs . David and Black , followed by Mr . T . G . Clare in another of his musical sketches ,

Our Oratorio Rehearsal . " " The Holy City" received a most beautiful interpretation at the hands of Mr . David ; and , in reply to an encore , Messrs . Black and David sang " Excelsior "as a duet , which was much enjoyed . Mr . Black was then heard to undoubted advantage in " The Mikado ' s Song , " from Gilbert and Sullivan's well-known comic opera , and an encore , which was well deserved , was insisted upon , an < d complied with ; in reply , Mr . Black sang " A Military

Model . " The vocal part of the programme concluded with a couple of humorous songs by Mr . T . G . Clare , which proved highly amusing . The company then proceeded to supper , after which dancing was immediately commenced , the duties of M . Cs . being satisfactorily carried out by Bros . C . H . Hunt , H . T . Dickens , F . W . Miles , and J . C Coppock . Mr . Fielder's band provided capital music , and the programme was as follows : Polka , " Outpost ;"

quadrille , " Loving Cup ; " valse , " Mondacht am Rhein ; " lancers , " Cigarette ;" barn dance , " Pompeii ; " valse , " Garden of Memories ; " lancers , " Punchinello ;" valse , " The Lady Linda . " Interval . Polka , " Pompadour ; " lancers , "Joan of Arc ; " valse , "Mandalay ; " quadrille , " Mynheer Jan ; " valse , "Spirits of Love ; " quadrille , "State Ball ; " barn dance , " " Sunny South ; " valse and galop , " Gliding Valse and Babiole . "

We may add that the supervision of the whole of the arrangements connected with the evening ' s proceedings were placed by the W . M . in the hands of his Director of Ceremonies , Bro . H . Harvey , who was assisted in his duties by several of the Past Masters , and the Secretary , Bro . Bliss , and upon those brethren , and the other members of the Committee , much credit is reflected for the

admirable manner in which all the details were carried out , everything passing off with the utmost smoothness and success . There was a unanimous opinion expressed that the gathering was one of the most successful of the kind that had ever been held in Wycombe , and we hope that now that the Masons have shown their friends how the thing really ought to be done , they will not be afraid to repeat the experiment another year .

The Robert Burns' Volume.

THE ROBERT BURNS' VOLUME .

A very fine volume has recently been issued by the venerable Lodge Canongate Kilwinning , No . 2 , on the Roll of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , and constituted so far back as A D . 1677 . The title is—Robert Burns , Poet Laureate

of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning . Facts Substantiating his Election and Inauguration on ist March , 1787 , Gleaned from the Lodge Records and other authentic Sources By

Hugh C . Peacock , Past Depute Master [& c ] , Assisted by Allan Mackenzie , Historian and P . M . Can . Kil ., No . 2 , etc . The date is 1894 , and the Printers are Christie & Son , 10 , North-st ., Andrewstreet , Edinburgh . Its issue , however , has been delayed for the Addenda

down to May , 1896 . Its size is large quarto , the noble frontispiece being reproduced from " a photograph-copy of the framed print of the Poet Laureate of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning , which met with the approbation of the brethren , 24 th June , 1802 , and has been on view nearly a century in the Lodge room , St . John ' s Chapel , St . John Street , Edinburgh . " This picture bears date 29 . h Octobsr , 1798 , the title , however , being apparently added , when framed , possibly about 1802 .

There is also an excellent reproduction of the celebrated painting by Bro . Stewart Watson , entitled "The Inauguration of Robert Burns as Poet-Laureate of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning , ist March , 1787 , " and the wellknown key on the opposite page . This most interesting work is the outcome of the action of the esteemed Grand Secretary of Scotland , who desired that steps should be taken to have the inscription on the Inauguratio n Picture in the Board Room [ of