New Hall At Harwich.

meeting on so interesting an occasion , and could quite understand the pleasurable feelings they must have in the prospect of having now a hall in which the impressive ceremonies of Masonry could be carried out with due solemnity and decorum . He believed that this Lodge was founded greatly through the instrumentality of Bro . Bagshaw , one of his predecessors in

office , and if those who had departed this life were permitted to witness what was passing here , they might be sure that Bro . Bagshaw would regard their proceedings with all the sympathy and goodwill he always manifested in Freemasonry . For himself he had very pleasant recollections of Freemasonry in this portion of his Province , for it was at Parkeston he

held the first Provincial Grand Lodge after his appointment , and the emblem he was now wearing was a memento of that occasion , given him by the then W . M . of the Lodge , Brother Clowes , who he was glad to see present that night . It was most gratifying to his feelings to notice the strides Masonry had made in the Province since that first meeting—they had

doubled the number of the Lodges—with a proportionate increase of members , while he was glad to be able to testify that the true spirit of Masonry pervaded them all , particularly as regarded the support given to the charities . Personally he was deeply grateful to the Brethren for the loyal way in which they had supported him on the occasions on which he had been called upon to preside

at any of the charity festivals . With regard to the Lodge Star , in the East , as Mayor of a Borough himself , he was very pleased to see one of the principal officers of the municipality of Harwich occupying the chair . It was an evidence of Bro . Ward's popularity amongst them ; and at the same time he regarded it

as a happy thing that Masonry , which would always be found on the side of law and order , should be thus linked with the governing body in the Borough . In conclusion Lord Warwick declared the Hall open for Masonic purposes , and expressed a hope that the Lodge would continue to flourish under its new conditions .

A new member was then admitted into the mysteries of Freemasonry , the initiation ceremony being most ably performed by Bro . Ward and his Officers . Before the Lodge was closed the Secretary Brother Sanders P . M . P . P . G . Stand . B . read letters of regret at their inability to be present from Bros . Lord Claud Hamilton , James Bound , M . P ., Col . Lockwood , M . P ., N . Tracy Prov . G . Sec . Suffolk , and other distinguished Brethren .

The inaugural banquet was afterwards held in the handsome coffee room of the hotel , a splendid repast being served under the personal superintendence of Bro . Amendt , chief of the Company ' s Hotel department , and Bro . Eees , the Manager of the Great Eastern Hotel .

Toasts usual on such occasions were honoured , all the speakers felicitating the Brethren upon the event of the day . The Worshiptul Master , in proposing the health of the Eight Worshipful the Provincial Grand Master , again thanked his lordship for having by his genial presence amongst them that day given encouragement to the Masonic work in which they

were all so deeply interested . His lordship had in Lodge spoken of the commemoration jewel he was wearing of his first Provincial Grand Lodge , which they were glad to know was held under the auspices of Lodge Star in the East . He would now ask his lordship , as a memento of that day ' s proceedings , to accept

another jewel—one of the pattern they had adopted as the Lodge jewel—and he trusted that Lord Warwick would always be able to look upon the jewel of 1896 with as pleasant recollections as he evidently did the jewel of 1883 . Bro . Ward then , amidst the greatest enthusiasm , pinned the jewel upon his lordship ' s breast .

The Earl of Warwick , on rising to reply , was most enthusiastically received . He repeated his congratulations on the event of the day and his earnest wishes for the continued prosperity of the Lodge . He said he quite felt that it was his duty to come amongst his Brethren as often as possible , but he felt sure he had their forbearance on his shortcomings in this

respect , knowing the many engagements he had to fulfil . There was one meeting , however , he knew they all looked forward to , and that was the annual Provincial Grand Lodge . He was pleased to tell them that it was proposed to hold the meeting this year at Maldon , on the 15 th July , and be had given his sanction to a new departure , namely , to the admission of their

ladies to the dinner , which was always held after the business of the day . He had asked Lady Warwick to join them on that occasion , and he had great hopes that her ladyship , who , as they all knew , managed to get through more in one day than any man could , would be able to honour their meeting by her presence . Amongst the Brethren present on the occasion were Bros .

Sir William Abdy , Bart ., P . G . D . P . P . S . G . W ., T . J . Balling

P . A . G . D . G . Prov . G . Sec , Eiehard Clowes P . G . Std . B . P . P . S . G . W . ( .. ho was initiated in Lodge Star in the East , and is one of its Pabt Masters ) , A . Lucking P . G . P . Prov . G . D . C ., F . S . Guy i-i-ov . J . o . VV ., J . H . Salter P . P . J . G . W ., Harold Francis

Prov . G . D ., J . E . Butler P . P . G . D ., Joseph Grimes P . P . G . S . of W .,

New Hall At Harwich.

H . G . Everard P . P . A . G . Sec , Eev . H . L . Norden , Vicar of Harwich , Wm . Groom Treas . 650 P . P . G . Std . B ., M . L . Sanders P . P . G . Std . B ., A . C . Parsons P . P . G . Stwd ., G . T . Helsdon P . P . G . Stwd ., Harold Gurney P . P . G . Stwd ., Warren Ellis I . P . M . 650 , & c , & c .

During his visit the Earl of Warwick was the guest of the Worshipful Master and Mrs . Ward , at the Gables , Dovercourt , and on Wednesday morning his lordship returned to town , en route for Warwick Castle . — " Essex Standard . "

Consecration.

CONSECRATION .

STANLEY OF PRESTON LODGE .

THE consecration of this Lodge , referred to in our last issue was followed by a banquet at the Bull and Eoyal Hotel Preston , under the presidency of the Earl of Derby W . M ., who in proposing the toast of the Queen , humourously remarked that if it had not been for her Majesty Masonry would not have had its present Grand Master . She had , therefore , established an abiding claim on the gratitude of the Craft .

Lord Derby , in proposing the toast of the Grand Master , alluded to the excellent manner in which his Eoyal Highness performed the many duties devolving upon him . Bro . Lambert P . P . G . Eeg . West Lancashire proposed the health of the Pro Grand Master , the Deputy , and the Grand

Officers Present and Past . They had , he said , only to mention the name of Lord Lathom to arouse the greatest of enthusiasm . He believed Lord Lathom was the most popular Mason in England . Of course their Eoyal Brother was always popular , but he ventured to think the Earl of Lathom was the most

popular leader of Masonry at the present time , but especially there in Lancashire . The Deputy Grand Master the Earl of Amherst was perhaps not so well known in those parts , but he was well known in the south of England as a hard-working Brother . In the Grand Officers they had such a galaxy of talent

that it would be invidious to single any out for special mention . They knew that only men of sterling merit , who had proved their worth , were promoted to the high rank of Grand Officers , and they could take the representatives present as fitting examples of the general high standard of gentlemen occupying such a position .

In responding , Bro . Ashworth P . G . D . said if they looked round they would be bound to acknowledge that East and West Lancashire was governed in a splendid manner . Colonel Starkie in the one , and Lord Lathom in the other , afforded a pattern as

leaders to the rest of England . England looked at these two districts with envying eyes when the large amount of money given to the charities was seen . The districts mentioned formed large Provinces , however , and were well worthy the foremost position they occupied .

Colonel Le Gendre Nicholas Starkie P . G . W . Prov . G . M . East Lancashire was received with tremendous cheering on rising to propose the health of the Worshipful Master the Eight Hon . the Earl of Derby , G . C . B ., P . G . W . P . Dep . Prov . G . M . He said : I am sure you do me a great honour in placing in my hands the

proposing of this toast , the toast of the evening , and one which , not only in the Masonic body , but in every society and every assembly of men , whether in the county or in this town of Preston , is always received with acclamation and that due respect which the name of Stanley and Lord Derby is bound to

evoke . The history of the present Lord Derby , from his entrance into public life to the present , has been a record of duty and honour , and in fulfilling the high important position to which he has been appointed he has performed his duties with the power , the dignity , the honour , and the affability which alone distinguish

a high-bred Englishman . The name of the Earls of Derby , and the name of Stanley , is mixed up from the commencement of this country ' s history to the present . The family are bound by the warmest ties to the county of Lancashire , connected as they have been so long with its fortunes and its prosperity . For

generations the Earls of Derby have been distinguished more or less by the great interest they have manifested in the welfare of our community , and now last , but not least , we have the head of that illustrious house with us to-night . Not only in politics , in Parliament , in our colonial enterprise , in military affairs , has an

active part been taken , but now We find his name enrolled in golden letters in the Masonic fraternity of England . It would be well that all nations and every community of men of high honour and unimpeachable integrity should associate themselves under the Masonic principles of truth and honour and universal

benevolence . I consider it one of the brightest days in my Masonic career when Lord Derby was made Deputy Provincial Grand Master of this great industrial Province of West Lancashire . When I come to my old home in Freemasonry I am received with the same cordiality as was manifested when I