Consecrations.

CONSECRATIONS .

ST . MICHAEL LE QUERNE LODGE . SO many inquiries were made respecting the origin of the title of this Lodge , that a few particulars on the subject may prove acceptable , not only to those Brethren who were unaware of its derivation , but to the Craft generally . St . Michael le Querne was the name of an ancient City Parish that was situated near the site of the present General Post

Office , and which . was entirely destroyed by the Great Fire of 1666 . It was afterwards annexed to the parish of St . Vedast , in Foster Lane ( so called after Sir Stephen Foster , who was Lord Mayor in 1454 ) . The Rector of the united

parishes is now the Rev . Harry Jones , and as a hint to the new Lodge which is in want of a Chaplain we may state that the Reverend gentleman is not yet a member of the Order . In one of the rooms of the General Post Office there is a

brass tablet which states that the church of St . Michael le Querne stood on that site , and it was this fact that induced the Founders , nearly all of whom belong to the Department , to designate their Lodge after the old parish . The name is of course that of St . Michael himself , after whom so many

churches are called , and to distinguish it from the other six in the City it was termed St . Michael le Querne , or St . Michael's of the Corn Market , which stood near . It is a

peculiarity that churches named after this Saint mostly stand on hills or high ground , and close by in Panyer Alley , on the east side , is a stone pedestal supporting a pannier with the figure of a boy on it , which bears the following inscription :

" When thou hast sought the city round , Yet still this is the highest ground . " The inception of the Lodge is due to Bros . F . W Crutchett 1360 , C . S . Rogers 24 x 7 , T . A . Collins 2417 , F . V Rogers Romilly 25 ( S . C ) , A . Hobden 3 8 4 , G . Banfield 450

J . Bell 1227 , J . J . Ware 1967 , J . Larkman 597 , J . F . Mullens 1658 , A . Moorhead P . M . 24 ( I . C . ) , P . Schierloh , J . H . Bench , A . Lane , W . McGettigan , all of 122 ( S . C . ) , W .

Hawkins 2255 , and E . Bassano 871 . These Brethren induced Bro . Alexander C . A . Higertv P . M . 1044 1714 and 2437 P . P . G . D . Surrey and P . P . G . W . Berks to accept the office of first Master .

The new Lodge is intended to be a class Lodge , inasmuch as only members of the Civil Service , those of the Post Office Department for preference , will be eligible for membership .

The place of meeting is appropriately appointed at the Salutation Tavern , Newgate Street , E . C , only a few yards from where the old parish was situated ; and there assembled on Monday a goodly number of Brethren to witness this always interesting function .

Bro . Edward Letchworth the Grand Secretary kindly undertook the Consecration ceremony , and appointed the following distinguished Brethen to assist him : —W . Vaughan Morgan Grand Treasurer as S . W ., H . Homewood Crawford P . G . D . as J . W ., Rev . J . Studholme Brownrigg P . G . C . as

Chaplain , Frank Richardson P . G . D . as Director of Cers ., and W . Lake A . G . S . as I . G . It would be superfluous to say that the beautiful service was perfectly rendered , because long practice has constituted Bro . Letchworth a master in the art . In his addiess to the Founders the presiding Officer said

that as the Lodge would be composed of those who are associated together in one of the most useful departments of the Government , so he sincerely trusted that the Lodge

about to be consecrated might be the means of accomplishing all the objects they had in view , and that it might advance in every way the interests of Freemasonry in the great city of London .

The Rev . J . Studholme Brownrigg having offered prayer , gave an excellent oration on the nature and principles of the Institution , and in the course of his remarks said that at the present time Freemasonry was on its trial before the

world . Every new Lodge took upon itself very great responsibilities , but if we carried the precepts of the Craft into our daily lives we should do well , for Masonry would bear the test of every criticism .

The impressiveness of the ceremony was considerably enhanced by the excellent musical arrangements , under the direction of Brother Arthur Weston , which were much appreciated .

The Lodge having been regularly constituted , the Brethren retired , when a Board of Installed Masters was formed , and Bro . A . C . A . Higerty was placed in the chair as first Master . Upon the return of the Brethren he was

Consecrations.

proclaimed and saluted , and the Warrant of the Lodge was entrusted to his keeping . The following Officers were then invested : —Bros . F . Crutchett S . W ., 0 . S . Rogers J . W ., F . V . Rogers . Romilly Treasurer , T . A . Collins Secretary , A . Moorhead'S . D .- ; G : Banfield J . D ., J : * J . Ware ' l . G ., John

Bell D . C , J . H . Larkman Asst . Secretary , J . F . Mullens and P . Schieirloh Stewards , . Charles Sheppard „ Tyler . The Worshipful Master proposed a vote of thanks to the Consecrating Officers , for their kindness and courtesy in

complying with the request to perform the ceremony they had had the pleasure to witness , arid suggested that as a slight" recognition of their services they should be elected honorary members of the Lodge , both propositions , being carried with acclamation .

Bro . Letchworth , on-behalf of-himself and colleagues , tendered thanks for the compliment , and said it was always a great gratification to consecrate a new Lodge . He wished them every possible success . A committee of the Officers was appointed to prepare

the bye-laws , and seven gentlemen were proposed as candidates for initiation at the next meeting . The W . M . having received the congratulations of the visitors , the Lodge was closed , and the company adjourned to the dining room , where a substantial repast was served .

It was somewhat of a novelty to be waited upon by smartly dressed waitresses , whose attention and civility gave additional pleasure to the guests . The toast of the Queen and the Craft was drank with enthusiasm , as became Her Majesty ' s Civil servants .

Alderman Vaughan Morgan responded for the Grand Officers , and bore testimony to the great amount of work done by the Prince of Wales to promote the interests' of Freemasonry .. . The Grand Secretary was a perfect master of the ritual , and it must be acknowledged that he ; had done his work that day properly and well .

Before he sat down Bro . Morgan proposed the health of the Worshipful Master , who had entered now for the : fourth time into the chair . He hoped that he would enjoy good health .. As he was well known to most of the members , he was sure to have a very successful year of office .

Bro . Higerty gracefully returned thanks , and promised that he would fulfil his duties with zeal , and do his best to promote the credit of the Lodge . He requested the Brethren

to be most careful whom they introduced , and felt sure they would , because they had all had some experience in the Craft , and knew the importance of having good men among them .

Bro . H . H . Crawford responded for the Consecrating Officers , and the usual compliment was passed to the Officers of the Lodge , all of whom responded .

The evening was enlivened by songs by Bros . Romilly , Miles , Peters , Collins , and others , and the launch of the new Lodge was accomplished with every sign of success—which we trust may follow .

In addition to the Consecrating Officers , and those already mentioned above , there were present Bros . W . Mason P . G . S . B ., Hy . Sadler G . Tyler , Martin D . Wells W . M . 2417 , John D . Vicary P . M . 2417 and 2444 , Arthur Weston 101 , Turle Lee 226 4 , L . A . Francis P . M . 1194 , W .

B . Wood J . W . 2417 , 1 . H . Higerty 106 ( Father of the W . M . ) , S . P . Clark 1512 , George Teideman 1326 , AV . Hunt 1677 , Charles Welch P . M . 1044 , Richard Poore P . M . 1949 , J . Langdon P . M . 2345 , F . W . Driver P . M . 45 , W . G .

Boswell P . M . 2417 , Wingrove Ives 1929 , S . J . Holmyard 2417 , G . S . Recknell Sec . 2466 , R . Grist 2523 , H . Hayward Gandy J . D . 94 6 , W . Fortescue S . W . 2437 , A . A . Foley S . W . 2417 , H . Massey P . M . 1928 , Orlton Cooper P . M . 211 , Victor Romilly , Thomas Hawkins , T . J . King .

Hastings Lodge.

HASTINGS LODGE .

AN especial meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of . Sussex was held at the Public Hall , Hastings , on the 22 nd ult ., on the occasion of the consecration of the Hastings Lodge , No . 2692 . The founders of the Lodge were Bros . J . Pearce P . M . 40

P . P . G . Swd . B ., G . Randall P . M . 40 P . P . A . G . D . C , C . j . Ticehurst P . M . 40 , F . Gemmell , H . Boyce W . M . 40 , F . Bruce , P . Beer Sec . 40 , W . T . Jordan P . M . 118 4 P . P . G ; Std . B ., W . H . Jordan S . D . 140 , G . H . Gaze P . M . 40 Prov . G . D . C , A . E . Young P . M . 1842 , R . Hughes P . M . 1184 P . P . G . St . B ., J . Inman , J . B : Foster P . M . 1184 P . P . A . G . P .,

C Dyke , W . Draper , L . F . St . John J . W . 118 4 P . H . Palmer P . M . 18 42 , and J . H . Smith . In the unavoidable absence of the Provincial Grand