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that No . i really dates before 1759 . It may be as well to correct the impression that the position of this lodge , since the " Union " of 1813 , is in any way due to its excellence , or to any special merits of its then members . The fact is , that in balloting for priority , the " Ancients " were successful , and so their number one , became No . 1 on the revised roll of 1814 , and

the No . 1 ofthe " Moderns ' - * thus had to be content with No . 2 , which it still holds , though the senior lodge in England . We quite agree with Bro . HUGHAN that it says much for the good feeling and zeal for Masonry felt by the members of thc Lodgeof " Antiquity , " to have accepted a secondary position on the roll , and so also ol" the " Royal Somerset House and Inverness , " No . 4 , London , another of the " Time Immemorial " lodges .

Consecration Of The Swan Of Avon Lodge, No 2133, At Stratford-On-Avon.

CONSECRATION OF THE SWAN OF AVON LODGE , No 2133 , AT STRATFORD-ON-AVON .

Stratford again numbers among its institutions a lodge of Free and Accepted Masons . Through the zeal and earnestness of two or three of the brethren a * movement was made in the autumn of last year to establish a lodje , and , their efforts being well seconded , a warrant was ultimately granted for its formation . It must be gratifying to the members of the new

lodge to know that the warrant was signed by his Royal Highness the Princeof Wales , the Grand Master of England . The ceremony of consecration was performed on Friday , the 12 th inst ., in the presence of a large number of Warwickshire Masons . The lodge room at the Union Club was found to be much too small to accomodate the visitors , and the news-room

below had , therefore , to be utilised . After the lodge had been opened by Bro . Lord Leigh , P . G . M ., the consecration was performed by Bro . Col . Machen , D . P . G . M ., and among those present were the following : Bros , the Marquis of Hertford , P . P . G . S . W ., G . S . W . ; G . Kins-Patten , P . G . S . W . ; Wm . ThomasP . G . J . W . ; George F . Hough , P . G . Chap .: Lord Ernest J . Seymour ,

, P . G . Reg . ; G . Beech , P . G . S . ; f . Brooks , P . G . S . D . ; Chas . Vero , P . G . Supt . of Wks . ; D . Rose , P . G . Dir . of Cers . ; T . Troman , P . G . O . ; P . Howse , P . G . Asst . Purst . ; N . Merridew , S . W . ; I . M . Monk-ton , P . P . G . A . P . ; A . Lyons , P . P . G . S . B . ; S . C . Smith , P . G . A . D . C . ; G . Hirons , P . G . S . ; W . R . Goate , P . G . D . C . ; Edmund Worrall , P . P . G . W . ; Ios . Boddinsrlon , P . P . G . A . D . C . ; Herbert Stanley , P . P . G . S . B . ; C . E . Hobbcs , P . P . G . ST . B . ; G . H . ' Fosbroke , P . P . G . P . ; Frederick H . Haynes , P . P . G . J . W . ; David Lavenstein . P . P . G . S . B . ; John Grinscll , P . G . J . D .: Felix | ones , P . M . 74 ; John S .

Foster , W . M . 74 : S . Lvon , W . M . 41 : S . C . Smith , P . M . 2 S 4 ; M . Wilson , P . G . S . W . ; Ios . P . Bcclc , P . M . * yi 5 "; Fras . C . Shatter , P . M . and Sec , :, oi -. Horace fi . Haynes , S . W . Vn ; E , Burfield , W . M . 5 67 ; T . Cox . S . D . 301 ; H . D . Morin ; Frank Glover , J . D . 3955 A . Wheal , 105 ; Caleb Williams , S . W . 2 S 4 ; Bernard Rice , 244 ; W . T . Taylor , P . M . 1016 ; L . Grinsell , 11 S 0 : M . Glover , W . M . 925 ; John Bowen , 1031 ; Jos . W . Martin ,

W . M . 5 S 7 ; C . Wilson , P . M . 5 G 7 ; Charles ] . Collins , | . W . 74 ; Henry P . Bloomer , S . W . IOIC ; T . C . Jennings , 2034 ; E . H . Hartley , P . M . 252 ; W . F . Tolladay , J . D . 11 S 0 ; Josiah Collins " , S . W . 74 ; Zecli . Evans , 5 67 ; E . P . Cole , S . W . 11 S 0 ; W . G . Halliby , 1163 ; C . R . Garnett , P . M . ; R . M . Bird , P . M . ; J . F . Burke , P . M . ; W . Hutchinsrs , P . M . ; Jas . Callaway , P . M . ; W . W . Skinner , S . W . 395 ; W . Pearce , P . M . ; G . F . Jackson ; and others .

Bro . Captain Cox was the Director of Ceremonies , and Bro . Thomas Troman presided at the organ . The oration was delivered by Bro . G . F . Hough , the Prov .. Grand Chaplain , and was of such an impressive character that it was ordered to be printed and circulated among the lodges of the province . After the ceremony of consecration , the installation of Bro . C . R .

Garnett as Worshipful Master of the Swan of Avon Lodge was proceeded with , the Installing Officer being Bro . Dr . F . Haynes , P . M . of Shakespeare Lodge . The W . M . then invested the following officers : Bros . George Boyden , S . VV . ; T . Hiron , J . W . ; C . Juslins , Treas . ; F . A . Lane , Sec ; ] . S . Cranmer , S . D . ; E . Birch , J . D . ; J . H . Caseley , I . G . and Org . * , and

W . Butcher , Tyler . The lodge was then duly closed . At half-past five o ' clock a banquet was served at the Shakespeare Hotei , the repast being of a recherche character , and laid out with great taste . The Prov . Grand Master , Lord Leigh , presided , and he was supported by

Bros , the Marquis ol Hertford , Lord Ernest Seymour , Col . Machen , the Rev . G . F . Hough , and the new W . M ., Bro . C . R . Garnett , about 50 other Masons being present . The Senior Warden of the lodge occupied the vice-chair . After the repast the toast list was gone through , the speeches being very brief .

Bro . Lord LEIGH , in proposing the toast of " The Queen and the Craft , " referred to the coming jubilee of her Majesty , and felt sure that all Masons , upon whose loyalty her Majesty could always rely , would heartily celebrate the occasion . ( Applause . ) In submitting the toast of " The Grand Master of England , the Prince

of Wales , " Lord LEIGH said it was gratifying io them to learn lhat his Royal Highness had appointed their brother , the Marquis of Hertford , to be one of his Grand Officers . The noble marquis had always taken a great interest in Masomy , and he well deserved this distinguishing mark of his Royal Higbness ' s lavour .

Lord LEIGH then proposed " The Provincial Grand Masters , Deputy Grand Masters , and the Officers , Present and Past , of the Grand Lodgeof England . " He coupled with the toast the name ol the Marquis of Hertford , and , afler speaking of the zeal of his lordship as a Mason , said his noble friend would preside at the forthcoming Masonic Festival , and he

hoped ihe Warwickshire brethren would send up a good subscription with his lurd-, hip . They had done well that afternoon , having subscribed £ 20 , and he trusted that many further sums would be forthcoming , so that the \ V * ir' <* irko > ire brethren might distinguish themselves by their liberality . ( Applause . )

uiu . tne MaVquis of HERTFORD , in replying , said he had taken great interest in ihe proceedings oi that day , and he trusted that the lodge they hid const-crated might last for many years . The noble Charities to which L'ird Li-ijjli liad referred were the means of relieving a great deal of distress , and of m ; iking the burdens of liie easier for unfortunate Masons . He

could only rc-tcho Lord Leigh's words , that if the Masons of Warwicksime , cither individually or collectively , wished to contribute to these Charities it would g ive him great pleasure to take charge of their subscriptions . He might add , tiie larger sum Warwickshire sent the prouder and thc better pleased hc should be- Hc trusted that not only would that county distinguish itself by its liberality , but that other counties would do

Consecration Of The Swan Of Avon Lodge, No 2133, At Stratford-On-Avon.

likewise . Before sitting down he would submit to them " The Health of their Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Lord Leigh . " He was sure he need not dilate on his lordship ' s experience in Masonry , the important services he had rendered to the Craft , the great good he had done in the cause , not only in Warwickshire but elsewhere . That was the twentieth time Bro . Lord Leigh had assisted at the consecration of new lodges . Tliere were

not many Masons in England who could pride themselves on such important service—on having taken an active part in consecrating twenty lodges . That fact alone showed that not only did Bro . Lord Leigh do his duly , but it further showed lhat the Masons of Warwickshire were always prepared to back him up , and give him every help they could . ( Applause ) . Bro . Lord LEIGH , who was heartily received , thanked the company for

the cordial manner in which they had received the toast . His noble friend had said that he had been at the consecration in that province of twenty new lodges . That implied , he thought , that he could not hope to be present at many more such ceremonies —( no , no ) . He was almost afraid to say ( hat he was the senior Provincial Grand Master of England . That admission seemed to make him rather old , and that little further service could be expected of him . He had great pleasure in meeting that day his old

friends , the brethren of Warwickshire , and he had taken great interest in the ceremony performed that afternoon . His lordship then submitted "The Health of Bro . Colonel Machen , " and spoke of the great zeal that gallant officer and brother had manifested in Masonry . Bro . Colonel Machen , they would remember , had also rendered great service in connection with the volunteer force of that county , and it mattered not what movement he identified himself with , he always infused into it his own active spirit and energy . ( Applause ) .

Bro . Col . MACHEN , in responding , said it had afforded him much pleasure to take part in that day ' s ceremony , and he sincerely hoped that the new lodge would have a long life , and not the brief existence that had attended its predecessor . Bro . Lord LEIGH , in submitting the toast of "The Worshipful Master , " said he heartily echoed the wish of Col . Machen that the new lodge would

last for many , many years . It had certainly commenced well , and from what he had observed that afternoon he thought it would be worked well . It was a healthy state of things when a lodge commenced with 27 members . Bro . CHARLES RANKEN GARNETT , the W . M ., in replying , said that when he first entered upon that matter he had not the slightest idea of occupying the distinguished position in which they had placed him . He

only consented to take that office ' when he found that by doing so it would be in the interests of the lodge . Having undertaken the post , it was his intention to do the best he could in promoting the prosperity of the lodge , and he was certain he should be ably supported by the officers . ( Hear , hear . ) Thev had seta very high standard before them ; Ihev might not , it

was true , be able to reach it . They knew that it was not in mortals to command success , but they would do more , they would deserve it . ( Applause . ) They might not shine as brightly as some ol the lodges in Warwickshire , but this he could say , they would so acquit themselves that the province should never have cause to be ashamed of the Swan of Avon Lodge . ( Applause . )

Bro . SKIDMORE returned thanks for "The Visitors , " and observed that one of the brethren of the newly-Iormed lodge , Bro . F . A . Lane , was made in Cheshire . Bro . Lord LEIGH said it gave him great pleasure to meet so many of the brethren in the ancient town of Stratford-on-Avon , and he congratulated the Swan of Avon Lodge on the success which had attended its fnauguration . The last toast was "To all Poor and Distressed Masons the Worid over . "

The proceedings , which had been interspersed with songs , were soon afterwards brought to a close .

Consecration Of The Wilberforce Lodge, No. 2135, Hull.

CONSECRATION OF THE WILBERFORCE LODGE , No . 2135 , HULL .

The constitution and the consecration of the Wilberforce Lodge , No . 2135 , took P ** " ** on the 29 th ult ., at the lodge-rooms , Charlotte-street . The ceremony was most solemn and impressive , and was performed by Bro . Dr . J . P . Bell , P . G . Senior Deacon , and Deputy Prov . Grand Master North and East Yorkshire , assisted by Bros . C . M . Peck , P . G . Secretary ; Walter Reynolds , P . M ., P . G . Treasurer ; Geo . Wilson , P . P . G . Deacon ; and H . Forder , P . M ., P . G . D .

There was a large attendance of the brethren of other lodges in Hull and district , among those present being Bros . J . D . O'Donoghue , W . M . 57 ; H . J . White , VV . M . 250 ; James Robinson , W . M . 160 . 5 ; J . Bordas , W . M . 1040 ; M . M . Westoby , W . M . 294 ; F . Fullerton , D . C , P . P .

G . S . ; W . D . Key worth , P . M ., P . P . G . Supt . of Works ; T . Hewson , P . M ., P . P . G . Supt . of Works ; S . Chadwick , P . M . 1040 ; A . King , P . M ., P . P . G . S . D . ; W . Winterbottom , P . M . 734 ; S . Scott Young , J . D . 2069 ; R . Wood , P . M . 1682 ; James Elgey , P . M . 1040 ; I ") . Edwards , P . M . 1993 ; and I . Walton , I . P . M . 57 .

On the conclusion of the consecration ceremony Bro . T . T . Davis was installed as the first VV . M . of the lodge by Bro . VV . Reynolds , P . M ., P . G . Treasurer , and afterwards the following brethren were invested as officers for the ensuing year : Bros . P . C Whitfield , P . M ., acting I . P . M . ; J .

Mackail , S . W . ; R . W . Moll , J . W . ; W . Gillet , P . M ., Treasurer and Lecture Master ; F . W . Maggarr , Secretary ; W . Hakes , Chaplain ; F . Vivian , S . D . ; G . W . Greenwood , J . D . ; Vessey King , Organist ; J . Charlesworth , D . C . ; J . VV . Sewell , Stwd . ; W . Hickling , I . G . ; and [ . Burdall , Tyler .

About 70 brethren subsequently sat down lo a banquet in the Humber Lodge , No . 57 , kindly lent lor the occasion by Bro . J . D . O'Donoghue , W . M . Most of the brethren named above were present , and thc usual loyal and Masonic loasts were duly honoured , the expressions of good wishes for the success of the lodge being of the most cordial character .

During the evening Miss Empringham and Mrs . Baxter entertained the company with a number of popular songs and duets , the duties of the pianist being kindly undertaken by Bro . Vessey King . The brethren who promoted the lodge svish it to be understood that it has not been founded in a spirit of antagonism , but solely as a convenience for those brethren who do not desire to partake of alcoholic beverages as refreshment , and they earnestly extend a fraternal welcome to the brethren of other lodges whenever they are pleased to visit them .