Consecration Of The Aldwych Lodge, No. 3096.

W . Bro . Rigg , in replying , said he felt deeply grateful to Bro . Times and the brethren for the manner in which they had received the toast . It had been a great pleasure to him to assist in the founding of this lodge after having been connected with Freemasonry for the last eight years , and he readily admitted that he did not take a great interest in

Masonry at first , but one day a friend of his said to him , "Well , Bro . Rigg , I don't think this is much in your line , " that remark set him thinking , and since then he had come to the conclusion that a thing worth doing at all was worth doing well , and he found that a great deal of benefit was

derived from Masonry if one threw one's heart into it . The result of his work in Freemasonry was that at present he derived more pleasure from that than he did from anything else . He was very pleased indeed to say that shortly after he came to London he became acquainted with Bro . Mills ,

their Treasurer . Bro . Mills worked very hard indeed in the interests of the Craft , but he did his work in a very quiet manner , and he ( Bro . Rigg ) considered himself fortunate in having met Bro . Mills , as it was through him that he was connected with the Aldwych Lodge , and as a life-long

abstainer he was very proud to be its fust Worshipful Master . He hoped that it was the commencement of a long and prosperous career of the lodge . He did not want to make an } ' rash promises , but he promised the brethren that he would put his heart and soul into the lodge , and he hoped

he would prove himself worthy of their conlulence . There seemed to be plenty of work coming along for him , and he would endeavour to do it to the best of his ability . He looked upon his position as Worshipful Master of the Aldwich as a very solemn responsibility and as an opportunity to do some good . He felt that Freemasonry , more than any

Other order , was doing a great deal towards laying the moral foundations of our country . Before concluding , Bro . Rigg said he would like to thank Bro . Harry Tipper , P . G . P ., whom he was very pleased to have for his I . P . M ., for the very excellent musical programme he had provided that evening .

The toast of " The Visitors " received a hearty reception ,, and was responded to by Bro . Sir Pnrdon Clarke , who said he took a great interest in temperance lodges , and he wished the Aldwych every possible success , and he only hoped he would witness the consecration of many similar lodges .

The Worshipful Master then proposed the toast of "The sister Temperance Lodges , " the King Solomon and the Kingsway , and called upon Bro . T . P . Baptie , P . M . of the former , and Bro . C . Cole , W . M . of the latter , to respond . W . Bro . Cole , responding , advocated a staunch adherence

to the total abstinence principles they professed , but deprecated any form of bigotry . The toast of "The Officers " was dishonoured and responded to by the S . W ., Bro . R . T . Ford ,, and the junior Steward , Bro . S . Bennett , and the Tyler ' s toast brought a memorable evening to a close .

Lodge Italia, N. 2687

Lodge Italia , N . 2687

A ~[ 0 better evidence could be adduced of the value of tree . I \ j masonry in creating and cementing that Entente Cordiale amongst individuals and communities which every good citizen in these days so greatly desires , than the success that has attended the formation of the lodges in London composed of

brethren of other nationalities . The pioneer in this good work was the Pilgrim Lodge , No . 238 , which has for considerably

over one hundred years worked in the German language , and has been recruited from residents of that

nationality in London . More recently . La France Lodge , Xo . 2060 , followed by L' Entente Cordiale Lodge , No . 279 6 , have rendered the same good service

to our French friends , and now it may confidently be asserted that Lodge " Italia , " which lias only been in existence since 18 97 has

, achieved an equal success . It need hardly be said that these lodges , in their conception and working ,

have worthily adhered to the best traditions of English Masonry , and that no better exemplification of the

ritual and ceremonies of the Craft is to be found than in these lodges . The April meeting of Loggia Italia , No . 268 7 , was held with full success at the Cafe Monico , Piccadilly , London , on Wednesday , 19 th April . Bro . A . Paroliui was installed as

a . MKXTASTI , t ' rt'ittiirci ; I ' tmniter . l ' . M .

A . AUDAGNA , futiiulrr , I'M .

It . MAI . l'AOA , I . l' . M .

A . 1 'AliOr . rNI , l ' . M .

F . GAMBIA , Sectr / arti , fun inter , i ' .. u .

L . FOl'I'OM , l ' . M .

A . COGMA'IT , fijiniilii ; l ' . M ., K . C .

Worshipful Master by W . Bio . F . Gali / . in . The proceedings were , as usual , conducted throughout in the Italian language . At the conclusion of the ceremonies the lodge was closed , and the brethren subsequently assembled in the large hall , where a banquet was well served , and the Master , in courteous

phrases indicating knowledge of the high value of international fraternity , proposed " Edward VII ., the

good King of England . " There was a joyous response to this . proposition . , which was followed by the Master proposing " Continued

Health , Happiness , and Prosperity to Victor Emmanele , King of Italy , " the august Sovereign who readily

made and deserved many friendships , not only among his own subjects , but among the people of other

great nations of the earth . The toast was honoured withMasonic greetings and other marks of genuine loyal

enthusiasm . This toast was followed by that of "The MAV . the Grand Master H . R . H . the

Duke of Connaught , the Deputy Grand Master , the Pro Grand

Master , and Officers of Grand Lodge , " to which there was a hearty response . Bro . R . Malpaga , I . P . M ., in proposing " The Worshipful Master , " gave him high greeting , accompanying it with welcome and the best of good wishes for a thoroughly happy