The Re-Opening Of Swanscombe Church.

restoration he supposed the archichect was the most important , and his work had been done efficiently and in a masterly manner ; few architects besides Mr . Bignall could have restored the building as they now saw it . Bro . Bignall , responding , said he was pleased

to see the completion of Swanscombe Church : the restoration was not an easy task , as the building was in a very dilapidated condition , but he was delighted to hear , day by day , on all sides , from those who were able to judge and whose opinion might be esteemed , that the work

was being carried out to the satisfaction of all parties . He had not by any means forgotten the font ; but had looked upon it with veneration and reverence , remembering that it had been there some hundreds of years . The reason

he did not restore it was that it was cut out of a solid block of chalk , and to touch it was most dangerous ; if . however , his lordship wished it , a piece could be let in , and it could be lined with oak .

Consecration Of A.Chapter At Eccles.

CONSECRATION OF A . CHAPTER AT ECCLES .

On Monday , the 16 th inst ., the consecration of the Victoria Chapter ( No . 1345 ) , took place at the Cross Keys Hotel , Eccles , near Manchester , where there was a goodly gathering of companions . The presiding officer was Comp . Thomas Wylie , Prov . G . H ., who performed the

ceremony in an exceedingly able and impressive manner , receiving valuable assistance from Comp . H . S . Alpass , Prov . G . S . E ., and Comp . T . Wylie , P . Prov . G . D . C . The musical part of the ceremony was under the direction of Comp . J . Skeaf , Prov . G . Organist .

After the consecration , Comp . T . Buxton was installed the First Principal ; Comp . J . C . Gillman , Second Principal , * and Comp . J . Barker , Third Principal ; after which Comp . Harding was elected and invested as S . E . ; Comp . W . Mellor , S . N . ; and Comp . C . W . Ireland , P . S . At the conclusion of the business , the

companions sat down to , and thoroughly enjoyed , the sumptuous repast prepared for them by Bro . Pearson , in his usually recherche style . The furniture , clothing , & c , were supplied from the Masonic establishment of Comp . George Kenning , and was of the most elegant and satisfactory character .

Noble Expression Of Masonic Sympathy.

NOBLE EXPRESSION OF MASONIC SYMPATHY .

Never were the pillars of Wisdom , Strength and Beauty set up within the Lodge Neptune , Kilwinning , Ardrossan , No . 442 , under circumstances more interesting or impressive than those under which the brethren met in their hall on the night of Friday , 6 th November . The

steamship Chusan from Glasgow for Shanghai having had her machinery disabled while passing out of the Channel , was obliged to put back to the Clyde for repairs . In doing so she was overtaken by a terrible storm on the morning of the 20 th October , and being unable to contend

with the gale , was run for Ardrossan , but while endeavouring to take the harbour she was dashed on the rocks within a short distance of the light-house pier and almost immediately parted in two . Of the crew , numberm ? $ t in all , nine were drowned—the captain and second

mate being among those who perished . Captain G . C . Johnson , who belonged to Massachusetts , was accompanied by his wife and son and sister-in-law ( also natives of America ) , and after struggling bravely through the seething waters , bearing up his wife who was lashed to a line thrown from the steam tug , and succeeding

in placing her within reach of hands outstretched to save her , he was overwhelmed by the surf and disappeared . His son and sister-in-law were saved . Bro . Captain Johnson was well known in Masonic circles at Shanghai , China , being a member of the Lodge Ancient Landmark , the Keystone Chapter , and the Rose Croix . To meet and sympathise with those of the survivors who

Noble Expression Of Masonic Sympathy.

were Freemasons was the object of Neptune Kilwinning ' s communication . These were—John Murdock Johnstone , chief officer , a M . M . of the Lodge Union and Crown , Glasgow , No . 103 . He behaved with great gallantry on the wreck , making fast the line to each person hauled on board the lifeboat , and otherwise

exerting himself in saving life . Edwin Humphries , purser , a native of America , and a member of the Star King Lodge , the Washington Chapter , and the Winslow Lewis Encampment , Salem , Massachusets ; honorary member of St . Andrew ' s Chapter , Glasgow . It was mainly to his exertions that the captain ' s sister-in-law was saved .

— Gardiner , chief engineer . He was severely injured on the wreck , and was not sufficiently recovered to permit of his attendance in the lodge . William Ortwin , 2 nd engineer , member of Lodge Ancient Landmark , [ and Keystone

Chapter , Shanghai . He saved the captain ' s child , a boy of about five years old . William Glass Wrench , 3 rd engineer , of the Lodge Lindores , No . 104 , and Glasgow St . Andrew ' s Chapter . George Marr , 4 th engineer , of the Lodge

Caledonian Railway , Glasgow , No . 345 . Having in the unavoidable absence of the Rt . Wor . Bro . F . Goodwin , opened the lodge in the presence of about fifty brethren—including John Robertson , D . M . ; W . Ross , S . M . ; Reid , S . W . ; W . Marshall , J . W . ; and W . Wyllie , Chaplain ;

the Past Master , Bro . James Robertson , spoke as follows : — ' * Worshipful Wardens and Brethren : The calamitous circumstances which have led to the present communication of Neptune Kilwinning being still fresh in the recollection of most of us , it is not necessary that I

should , in any lengthened oration , expatiate upon them in order to evoke your sympathy in the object of our meeting . The name of this lodge is suggestive of its mission—the spread of Freemasonry among a class of men whose constant exposure to the dangers of the mighty deep

renders it all the more necessary that they should belong to a society whose fraternal sympathy and regard are sure to meet the mariner either by land or sea , in every quarter of the globe . Composed , as our lodge is , to a large extent , of seamen sailing under almost every flag

and speaking every language , it speciall y becomes us , on occasions like the present , to give practical effect to our fraternal obligations . Your presence here to-night shows that you are true to your Masonic principles . Turning to the officers present , Bro . Robertson continued—Bro .

Johnson and surviving brethren of the Chusan , allow me , in name and in behalf of the Lodge Neptune Kilwinning , to offer you our heartfelt congratulations upon your merciful preservation from the fate which has overtaken so many of your shipmates on the wreck of the Chusan , and to beg

your acceptance of this purse of fifty-four sovereigns ( afterwards considerably increased ) to assist in refitting you for the further prosecution of your hazardous calling . The disastrous circumstances under which you have been brought to Ardrossan will never be effaced from

your memory , and associated with these will be your present visit to Neptune Kilwinning . We shall long remember you , and it is our earnest wish that the great Architect of the Universe may , at all times and under all circumstances , be your shield and deliverer , and may success

attend each one of you in your future career . " Bro . Johnson , on receiving the purse , acknowledged on behalf of Jhimself and his shipmates the debt of gratitude under which they had been laid to the Lodge Neptune Kilwinning by the overwhelming kindness of which they were the

recipients . They could never cease to remember with the most fraternal feelings the brethren of No . 442 . Bros . Marr , Humphreys , Ortwin , and Wrench , each in the fulness of heart which the proceedings had produced , indorsed with few

but expressive words what had fallen from the chief officer , and made honourable mention of the sympathy which been extended by the people of Ardrossan to the crew of the ill-fated ship . The name of Bro . Charles Adair was closely associated with the kindness they had

experienced . The interest in this communication was in

Noble Expression Of Masonic Sympathy.

tensified by the lodge ' s recognition of the gallantry of Bro . David Casey , chief officer of the barque Ada Barton , of St . John , N . B ., in connection with the wreck of the Chusan . This brother was the first to volunteer to go out with the tug-boat , and at considerable personal risk

bore the principal part in hauling the captain ' s wife and others of the survivors on board the tug—his exertions being redoubled from his having recognised certain Masonic signs thrown by Captain Johnson while supporting his wife

on the wreck . To mark their admiration , therefore , of Bro . Casey ' s manly conduct , the brethren of Neptune Kilwinning , his mother lodge , presented him with a handsome gold ring , bearing an appropriate inscription . Bro . Casey in a Nova Scotian , hailing from Bay Vert .

United Grand Lodge.

UNITED GRAND LODGE .

The following is the agenda of business to be transacted in Grand Lodge , on Wednesday , 2 nd December , 1874 . 1 . The Minutes of the Quarterly Communication of the 2 nd September , 1874 , for confirmation .

2 . Report of the Members of Grand Lodge appointed at the last Quarterly Communication to offer the Grand Mastership of the Order to His Royal Hig hness the Prince of Wales , K . G ., Past Grand Master , in accordance with the Book of Constitutions , in consequence of the

resignation of the Marquess of Ripon . 3 . A letter having been received from the Grand Lodge of Ireland announcing the melancholy intelligence [ of the decease of His Grace the Duke of JLeinster , its Grand Master , the M . W . Grand Master will propose a Vote of

Condolence to that Grand Lodge . 4 . Nomination of a Grand Master for the ensuing year . $ . Appointment of a President of the Lodge of Benevolence . 6 . Election of a Senior and Junior

Vice-President of the Lodge of Benevolence . 7 . Election of twelve Past Masters to serve on the Lodge of Benevolence for the year ensuing . 8 . R . eport of the Lodge of Benevolence for the last quarter , in which are recommendations for the following Grants , viz .:

—The widow of a brother of the Domatic Lodge , No . 177 , London £ 100 A brother of the Royal Lodge of Faith and Friendship , No . 270 , Berkeley ... £$ 0 The widow of a brother of the Royal Gloucester Lodge , No . 130 ,

Southampton ,-.... £ 15 A brother of the Strawberry Hill Lodge , No . 94 6 , Twickenham £ ' 00 A brother of the Caledonian Lodge , No . 134 , London £ 150 A brother of the ^ Vitruvian Lodge , No . 87 , London , £ 50

9 . Report of the Board of General Purposes To the United Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England . " The Board of General Purposes have to report that their attention has been drawn to the circumstances that Lodge 972 ( St . Augustine )

had initiated a minor without dispensation , under the alleged supposition that as a "Lewis" it could be legally done . " The Board having considered the circumstances , arrived at the unanimous conclusion that a violation of the constitutions and a

consequent breach of Masonic law had been committed , and although this had apparently taken place under an idea of its legality , which is stated to be somewhat prevalent in the Craft , and therefore without intention to infringe Masonic law , the Board considered they had no

option but to admonish the lodge , and they resolved that the lodge be admonished accordingly , and that the certificate of the initiated minor be not issued until he be ic-obligated . vhen of full age , or otherwise in accordance with the Book of Constitutions .

''( Signed ) J . B . MONCHTON , " President /' " Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C , " 17 th November , 1874 . "