A Consecration Rehearsal.

A CONSECRATION REHEARSAL .

A WELL KNOWN MASON IN WALES . OUR esteemed Brother Charles Collette is crowding the Theatre Royal , Cardiff , with delighted audiences , and this is how he announces his performance of "What Happened to Jones" in the language of the principality : — Os ydych am wybod BETH DDYGWYDDODD I JONES gofynwch i CHARLIE COLLETTE yn y Chwareudy Brenhiol , Caerdydd , Llun , Tachwedd 26 ain , ae yn ystod yr wythnos ! PEIDIWCH ANCHOFIO 11

DESPITE the fact that new Lodges are established in different parts of the country at what may fairly be termed frequent intervals , the fact yet remains that a very large majority of our Brethren never have the opportunity of witnessing that most interesting ceremony , the Consecration of a Masonic Lodge ; and this being so we are surprised the ceremony is not more frequently rehearsed in our Lodges of Instruction ; not , perhaps , that there

is any necessity to instruct- the ordinary Mason in the ritual , but rather as affording a pleasant change from the usual routine of sections and degree work . We offer the suggestion to the officials of our Lodges of Instruction , that one night each year might profitably be devoted to the rehearsal of the ceremony of consecration , another to the full work of installation , and a third to the working

of the Fifteen Sections . We know the second is often gone through in an informal sort of way , and that the latter is given as the great event of the year in many Lodges of Instruction—the three should be regularly arranged for , and could hardly fail to prove interesting to large numbers of Brethren , and would , in addition , open up a new means of friendly competition among the Preceptors and othei lsrominent workers of the day .

That there is room for such a departure from routine as the annual rehearsal of the Consecration ceremony was manifest on Friday of last week , when a large number of Brethren assembled at a meeting of the Metropolitan Lodge of Instruction , No . 1056 , held at the comfortable and well appointed rooms of Mr . S . Hines , the Mail Coach , 60 Farringdon Street , E . G ., the occasion being

the rehearsal of the ceremonies of consecration and installation by Bro . James Terry P . G . Sword Bearer P . P . G . S . W . Norths and Hunts P . M . 228 1278 13 66 , & c . Secretary of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , who , it is fair to say , has consecrated more regular Masonic Lodges than any other member of our Brotherhood .

On this occasion Bro . Terry had the assistance of Bros . F . P . Weinel P . M . as I . P . M ., H . B . Spaul P . M . S . W ., P . Waldvogel P . M . J . W ., J . D . Webb P . M . Treas ., W . R . Witt P . M . Sec , J . Evans P . M . S . D ., T . Newell P . M . J . D ., A . B . Clayton S . W . I . G ., N . P . Lardner P . M . D . C , W . Martin P . M . Tyler ; while the large company present included representatives of some fifty Lodges .

The Lodge being formed was advanced to the second and third degrees , when Bro . James Terry , in his' usual eloquent and impressive manner , explained the nature of the meeting . Bro . N . P . Lardner P . M . D . C . delivered the addresses to the Consecrating Officer , and after other formalities the Lodge Board was uncovered

and the Consecrating Officer and acting Wardens carried the elements three times round the Lodge . The emblems of plenty , joy and happiness , and peace and unanimity , were introduced , and after the Consecrating Officer had dedicated and constituted the Lodge the dedicatory ode was sung .

The Lodge was resumed to the second degree , and Bro . F . P . Weinel P . M . Preceptor of the Lodge was presented as W . M .-designate by the D . C , and in regular order was installed and saluted . He afterwards invested the Officers . The work was splendidly done throughout and we hear from a visitor who was present that Bro . Terry , the grand old man of

Freemasonry , as our correspondent puts it , who during his long and successful career has installed over a thousand Worshipful Masters , and consecrated very many Lodges , was in splendid form , and that though age is adding furrows to his beaming countenance yet his voice is as strong , and his exposition as pathetic and beautiful as in days of yore .

Bro . Weinel , in proposing a vote of thanks to the Consecrating Officer , referred in eulogistic terms to the manner in which the ceremony had been performed by Bro . Terry , and said he felt sure it had made a lasting impression upon every Brother who had listened to it .

Bro . Lardner proposed that Bro . Terry be elected an Honorary Member of the Lodge , which was seconded by Bro . Witt Secretary . Bro . H . L . Atkins P . P . S . G . W . Norths and Hunts said that as an old friend of Bro . Terry he had much pleasure in supporting the proposition , which was agreed to with unanimity .

Bro . Terry , in reply , said the Brethren were no doubt aware he was a very modest man . He was indeed pleased that his little efforts were admired , and that they had met with approbation . He begged to tender his very best thanks to the Brethren for the handgome way in which they had acknowledged his services that evening .

A Consecration Rehearsal.

He had consecrated a large number of Lodges and Chapters , and had installed many Masters . Being an honorary member of numerous Lodges it was not an easy task to visit them all , but he hoped some day to visit their Lodge again , and have the opportunity of seeing how the work was being carried out . As they had so

excellent a Preceptor as Bro . Weinel he was sure the Lodge would prosper . He strongly advised the Brethren to attend regularly , as without practice at Lodges of Instruction they would find it very difficult to gain that knowledge of the beautiful ceremonies and ritual of the Craft which was necessary in their Lodges .

Bro . Witt Secretary then proposed that Bros . Thos . Powell , Charles Strong , Etherington Smith , and Horace Reynolds , the Lyric Vocal Quartette , also the accomplished accompanist Brother Frank Swinford P . M . Prov . G . O . Middx ., be elected Honorary Members of the Lodge , in recognition of the valuable services they had rendered that evening , in adding so greatly to the beauty and impressiveness of the work by their musical contributions .

The S . W . had very much pleasure in seconding this proposition , which was warmly supported by Bro . Terry , unanimously approved of , and acknowledged by Bro . Swinford , on behalf of the several Brethren .

Several new members were elected and a most successful meeting brought to a conclusion in the usual way . Among the many present were Bros . T . Mears P . M ., J . Done , J . C . Pratt P . M ., G . Joyce , N . Wrenne , A . Dawson , A . Clark , F .

Blake W . M ., R . E . Ferguson , T . Bishop , James W . Harding P . M ., Henrich S . W ., F . Hahn , J . Amend , P . H . Hill , J . Hoffmann , C . W . Fink , P . Rotenberger , T . P . Warwick W . M ., A . Clayton , W . Gresham S . W ., J . Finch , W . Hayward , A . Lord , J . Wells , J . Wynman , & c .

The members of the Dart Lodge , No . 2641 , last week entertained at a banquet , in honour of his election to the Dartmouth mayoralty , Alderman Wilton P . M . Treasurer and Representative of the Lodge on the Committee of Petitions . Bro . J . R . Parsons W . M . presided , and the

vicechair was occupied by Bro . P . R . Hockin . The W . M . proposed the health of " the guest , " and the Mayor , in reply , said in accepting the mayoralty he was but following in the footsteps of a Brother Mason , Capt . Orme Webb . He trusted he should be able to carry out his duties as efficiently as that Brother did .

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