Aldermaston Lodge.

century the latter years of which have seen an immense advance in the number of Freemasons and in the number of Masonic Lodges , not only in this and other lands , but in all the Dependencies of the British Empire . It is natural that we should ask ourselves " What of the future ? " That lies

in higher hands than ours ; but surely you will say that the future can only be secured by keeping to the ancient landmarks that have made Freemasonry great . A fraternity of men that departs from its ancient tradition in main principles must be on the down grade ; because such departure is bound ,

as it seems to me , to lead to dissension , and separation , and separation means weakness . In this connection that was a valuable object lesson in that order that was read emanating from the Grand Lodge of England , excommunicating the Grand Lodge of Peru , because the Volume of the Sacred Law

had been removed from their altar , and the sequel that came after some months , reinstating that said Lodge because the Bible had been restored to its proper place , and was recognised as the standard of truth . It is then , as we believe , these principles being kept inviolate which will render our

Masonic foundations for ever , sure , and Freemasonry will be kept , as we believe , great in the future , by being very careful that those whom we admit to the privileges of our Brotherhood will be those who will keep ever to the front the principles on which the Order is founded .

Here , then , we have come to consecrate this Lodge , this temple not made of inanimate stone , but of living stones , and here there is , as v / e believe , full surety that the principles that have made Masonry what it is , will be kept to the fore in the future . Surely it is a good omen for the future , I

would say it without a touch of flattery , but as a statement of fact that everyone here will acknowledge , that the Brother who will preside over your Lodge has been inspired with that great principle of Brotherly Love which has led him , having the power , to put into practice the second great principle ,

" relief , " and be so noble a patron of what we call our Masonic Charities . And again , going only to the second name on the list of your Officers , the name of your I . P . M ., that alone would be sufficient testimony that here in this new Temple the principle of Charity will be interpreted aright . Surely it

is a good promise for the future , without going on to say nice things , as one might very easily , and with much personal gratification , without going further in } 'our list of Founders than this , surely it is a good omen that he who will preside over you has so nobly shown his Masonic spirit .

This new Lodge will be , I understand , what is called a Summer Lodge . It will meet at that time of the year when this beautiful world of the Great Architect ' s specially appeals to us , as it does now , in all the glory of a "leafy June . " It will give the weary and worn Brother opportunity in

wholesome recreation and social intercourse to re-create and stimulate those powers which the Almighty has given to us for His service . Meetings such as will be held here will hel p to rub off all " excrescences , " ancl bring men nearer to one another by the bond of human kindness . Masonry strikes a

blow against that selfishness and materialism which lives only for the present , because it is of the essence of Masonry to make a man look to others more than to self , to make a man look to another world rather than this for perfect

happiness . " Let brotherly love , relief , and truth" ever reign here . May this new Lodge flourish , and bear other witness to that great truth of " the Brotherhood of Man , " which Freemasonry strives to inculcate .

The musical brethren , Bros . Percy Coward , Wilfred Kearton , Malcolm Boyle , and Bertram Mills , from St . George ' s Chapel , Windsor , then rendered an anthem , Bro . Vernon Knowles presiding at the organ . The dedication

prayer was offered , and the remainder of the impressive ceremony proceeded according to the ancient ritual , closing with another finely-sung anthem " Glory to God in the highest , " and the Benediction .

The next item on the lengthy programme was the installation of Bro . C E . Keyser , of Aldermaston Court , as the first Worshipful Master of the Lodge , the ceremony , like that of the Consecration itself , being carried out with great

efficiency ancl impressiveness by the able and much-respected Deputy Provincial Grand Master Bro . J . T . Morland , who expressed thc regret felt by lhe Brethren generally that another engagement prevented the attendance of the Provincial Grand Master Lord Wantage , V . C

The newly-installed Worshipful Master appointed and invested the Lodge Officers for the ensuing year , as follow : —

Brothers Edward Margrett P . M . noi P . P . G . W . Berks and Bucks I . P . M ., T . S . Cambridge S . W ., J . Wright J . W ., the Rev . E . R . Adams P . P . G . Chap . Sussex Chaplain , Lieut .-

Aldermaston Lodge.

Colonel G . C . Ricardo W . M . 574 Treasurer , W . Bonny P . M . 414 Prov . J . G . W . Secretary , A . H . Bull Prov . G . Steward S . D ., W . G . Crombie J . D ., E . Prince P . M . 209 and 2671 P . P . S . G . W . D . C , P . Tunbridge I . G ., Vernon Knowles Organist , T . R . Kent and W . J . Langley Stewards , J * . F . Stevens Tyler .

The Grand Lodge Officers present , ancl also the Provincial Grand Officers who had actively assisted in the Consecration ceremony , were thanked by the W . M ., and unanimously elected honorary members of the Lodge . At six o ' clock the business was brought to a conclusion , having occupied about two hours .

By the kind permission of the W . M ., the installation banquet was served in 11 marquee erected beneath the leafy shade of one or two of the noble trees which adorn the park . The catering had been entrusted to Bro . Wright , and afforded entire satisfaction , while the day ' s arrangements generally

devolved upon the Secretary Past Master W . Bonny , who had spared no effort to ensure a thoroughly successful result . Grace was beautifully sung by the glee party from Windsor , and the customary toasts were subsequently proposed and honoured .

The W . M ., who presided , supported by the Grand Officers , successively proposed the toasts of the Queen and the Craft , and the M . W . the Grand Master of England H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , K . G ., which were drank with loyal enthusiasm , ancl the National Anthem and " God bless the Prince of Wales " were respectively sung .

The next toast submitted by the W . M . was that of the Grand Officers of England present and past . The W . M . congratulated the Brethren upon being honoured with such a representative body of Grand Officers , and he especially thanked his friend Bro . Halsey Provincial Grand Master of

Hertfordshire , who had at great inconvenience to himself travelled to Aldermaston to take part in the day ' s function . He regarded Bro . Halsey ' s presence as a great personal compliment . He also thanked Bros . Eve , Morland , Kirch

hoffer , Martin , Terry , McLeod , and Sadler for having honoured them by attending , and bore his personal testimony to the great amount of hard work which those Brethren had performed for the good and advancement of Masonry .

Bro . T . F . Halsey , M . P ., in the course of his reply , said he felt a special pleasure in responding to the invitation of his esteemed friend and Brother the newly-installed Worshipful Master , because no one could testify more than he could to the excellent work which had been performed by

Bro . Keyser in founding and assisting to keep up Lodges in different parts of the country . What Bro . Keyser was now doing in the Province of Berkshire in promoting the well-being

and success of Masonry and its noble Chanties himself , and in stirring up others with the same object , he had been doing for many years in the Province of Hertfordshire and elsewhere . The success of the candidates for the different

Charities from the Hertfordshire Province had been mainly due to the energy , skill , and liberality of Bro . Keyser , and they could fully rely upon similar service from him in the Province of Berks . The speaker heartily congratulated the

Brethren of the newly-founded Lodge upon having commenced under such favourable auspices , and with such an able and liberal-hearted a Worshipful Master as Bro . Keyser .

Bro . Richard Eve made an eloquent response , and described the newly-installed Worshipful Master as a splendid Brother for work ; indeed , he had never known a Mason who could perform the duties of the chair in all its varied forms as Bro . Keyser could . He regarded it as a great honour to

be an Officer of the Grand Lodge of England , which represented a brotherhood of men who carried out the great principles of brotherly love , relief , and truth to an extent and completeness equalled b } ' no other Institution in the world . He felt that the Grand Lodge of England had still a

great future before it . It was not only increasing rapidly in numbers , but also in influence , and its capacity for good and justice and right was continuing to expand . They had no differences , because they were agreed upon one common

basis of action , and they rejoiced in the fact that all kinds and all classes of men could be embraced by their organisation , which had already clone so much for humanity , and which was destined to do more in that direction than any other body in the world .

The W . M . then gave the toast of the Provincial Grand Master of Berkshire Lord Wantage , V . C , K . C . B ., P . G . W . of England , and the Provincial Grand Officers of Berkshire present and past , and also the Consecrating Officers . Bro . Keyser said they must all feel very sorry that Lord Wantage