The Province Of Essex. Dedication Of A Masonic Hall At Colchester,

The Province of Essex . Dedication of a Masonic Hall at Colchester ,

THE Freemasons of Colchester , following the commendable example of so many of the provincial towns , have provided themselves with a commodious and handsome Masonic Hall , and the dedication by the new Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Colonel Lockwood , M . P .,

took place on the 28 th October , when a large gathering of the members of the Order assembled to assist a't the ceremony . The initiative in the undertaking was taken by the senior lodge , the Angel , No . 51 on the roll of the Grand Lodgewhich is the oldest in the province . The minutes

, of the lodge reveal the fact that several attempts had been previously made to provide a special home for the Craft , but for various reasons have been abandoned . The last attempt had gone so far as a purchase of premises and a site , but difficulties arose , and this , too , had eventually to share the

fate of former schemes . The next attempt , however , has happily proved successful , and the result is a building admirably adapted for its purpose . On the ground iloor

LMIIO . COLONIC LOCKWOOD , . \ U \ , PROVINCIAL GRAND MA . STKR . there is a spacious entrance hall leading into a dining room 45 feet long by 26 feet wide . On the iirst Iloor is the splendid lodge room of the same dimensions . The ceremony of dedication was carried out in accordance

with ancient usage . In the address delivered by the Provincial Grand Master , he remarked that it seldom fell to the lot of a Provincial Grand Master to open such a building as that , and he congratulated the brethren of Colchester—the home of the

oldest lodge in the province—on the efforts they had made , and upon the results of them . Everyone must be well aware that such a building and such an undertaking could not have been carried out without great and untiring efforts on the part of those concerned , who had felt it right , proper , and

seemly that a home like that should be established in Colchester for Freemasonry ; and as Freemasonry grows and increases the want of such buildings as that would naturally be felt . He trusted that in those large centres of Freemasonry where possibilities such as that existed , the example set by Colchester might be speedily followed .

Prayer having been offered by the Bishop of Barking , the architect ( Bro . Charles E . Butcher ) delivered up to the Provincial Grand Master the tools entrusted to his care at the laying of the foundation-stone , and handed in the plans of the completed structure . The Provincial Grand Master briefly complimented the architect on the skill and ability

HltO . THE RIGHT RKV . THH LORD ISISHOI' OF HARKING , ACTING PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPLAIN AT THH JUDICATION . with which he had discharged his duty . The Provincial Grand Secretary thereupon requested the Provincial Grand Master to dedicate the hall to Masonic purposes , and handed him the conveyance . Bro . Colonel Lockwood signified his assent , and called upon the Chaplain to deliver an oration .

liltO . T . , J . ; J 1 ALL 1 NIJ , J'JIOVl NCI A 1 . GRAND SKCHKTAIIV . The Right Rev . the Bishop of Barking said that the occasion that had brought them together was one of exceptional interest , and he thought that he might say the ceremony would lie one of exceptional solemnity . It was but