Consecration.

CONSECRATION .

— . u . ERKENWALD LODGE . VAEIOUS attempts have been made in recent years to establish a Masonic Lodge at Barking ; but , although a number of Brethren have long resided in the town , the proposal was not taken up in a representative manner . The latest effort in this direction has , however , been crowned with success . " The matter was " pushed " with much energy by Bro . H . Martin , of

Ilford , who was formerly a prominent inhabitant of Barking . Certain difficulties were at first encountered ; but they were overcome , and Bro . Martin persevered until he had secured the necessary amount of support . A Warrant for the establishment of a Lodge was granted in due course by the Most Worshipful Grand Master H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , upon the application of the following Founders : Bros . P . J . King P . M ., J . 0 . Lewis

P . M . P . P . G . R . Herefordshire , H . Martin P . M ., W . K . Marriott , H . H . Mason , 8 . Glenny , H . B . Perkins , C . H . Eidley , T . W . Polling , A . Fergusson , F . B . Emerson , D . T . Jackson , A . Carter , J . J . Bassett , F . Himer , A . G . D . Glenny , F . G . Bird , W . T . Taylor , W . A . Medcalf , W . Parsons , J . Benton , W . H . Brough , and A . W . Allingham . The name given to the Lodge is that of " Erkenwald , " No . 2808 .

The Lodge will in the ordinary way meet at the Eailway Hotel , Barking ; but for purposes of convenience , and owing to the large number of Brethren who had accepted invitations , the Consecration took place on Monday , 23 rd ult ., at the Freemasons ' Hall , London . Nearly all the Founders were present , together with about sixty visitors . Amongst the latter were Bro . Louis Sinclair , M . P ., and the Masters of several local Lodges , including Bros . W . Pallant , F . Evans , and F . A . Stratford .

The beautiful ceremony of Consecration was admirably performed by Bro . Edward Letchworth Grand Secretary , assisted Joy the following Grand Officers : Bros . G . Fitzgerald Matier P . A . G . D . C . as S . W ., Major C . W . Carroll P . G . Swd . B . as J . W .,

Yen . Archdeacon Stevens P . G . Ch . as Chaplain , Frank Richardson P . G . D . as D . C ., and James Boulton P . G . Purst . as I . G . Bro . Arthur Briscoe P . M . P . P . G . Org . Surrey played the musical accompaniments ; and the anthems were effectively rendered by Bros . Henry E . Cribb , John Probert , and J . L . Haddon .

The Consecrating Officer addressed the Brethren on the motive of the meeting ; and , in a few earnest remarks , exhorted them to remember the responsibilities that devolved upon them by virtue of the Warrant that came to them direct from the Most Worshipful Grand Master .

An Oration upon the nature and principles of the Institution was delivered by Archdeacon Stevens , whose able address was listened to with rapt attention . He made happy allusion to the fact that the Lodge was being Consecrated upon St . George ' s Day ; and he impressed upon the Brethren that to be a good Mason one must be a good man . He also pointed out that

persons who desired to become Masons should not be accepted indiscriminately ; but that care should be exercised to receive into their midst only those whom they felt satisfied would be a credit to the Craft by acting up to its truest principles . The Lodge , he went on to explain , took its name from Bishop Erkenwald , who was a Bishop of London many years ago , when Barking was

included in the Diocese of London . He gave an interesting account of the good work accomplished by the Bishop , more especially in connection with a monastery at Barking ; and he concluded by expressing a hope that the Brethren would , as far as possible , bear in mind the noble example that had been set them by so worthy a divine .

Bro . Philip J . King P . M ., who had been unanimously chosen by the Founders to act as the first Worshipful Master of the Lodge , was afterwards impressively installed by the Grand Secretary , and Bro . J . 0 . Lewis P . M . P . P . G . R . Herefordshire was designated the Immediate Past Master . The W . M . appointed and invested his Officers .

A cordial vote of thanks was passed to the Consecrating Officers , who were invited to become Honorary Members of the Lodge . The Grand Secretary acknowledged the compliment , and said they would have much pleasure in doing so . Two candidates were proposed ; and hearty good wishes having been expressed to the W . M . by the Visiting Brethren , Lodge was closed in due form .

A recnerche banquet was subsequently served . The W . M ., who presided , was supported by several of the Grand Officers ; and the vice-chairs were occupied by the Wardens Bros . W . K . Marriott and H . B . Perkins . The usual toasts were happily proposed by the W . M ., and received with excellent " fire . "

Bro . Archdeacon Stevens , in responding for the Grand Officers , said he hoped to pay a visit to the Lodge at Barking in the near future .

The Worshipful Master , in giving the toast of the Consecrating Officers , referred in eulogistic terms to the manner in which

Consecration.

the Consecration ceremony was performed by the Grand Secretary , and said he felt sure that it had made a lasting impression upon the mind of every Brother who listened to it . Bro . Letchworth , who was heartily received , said although he was very sensible of the compliment paid him by the W . M ., yet he wished it had been possible for another Brother to have

responded , whose voice they had not been compelled to listen to for so long a period as his that evening . He begged to tender his best thanks for the kind manner in which they had received the toast proposed by the W . M . On more than one occasion he had attended the Consecration of a Lodge , and there was no duty which afforded him more pleasure than that of starting into

existence a new Lodge . When application was made to him he knew the town of Barking would support what was a very great want , and it was very gratifying that a number of Brothers in Barking should start a Lodge for the town . Being an honorary member of nearly 200 Lodges , it was not an easy thing to visit all of them , but he hoped some day or other to visit Barking and then see the way in which the work was carried out .

Bro . H . Martin proposed the Worshipful Master , and the compliments bestowed upon Bro . King were warmly endorsed by the Brethren , whom he thanked in suitable terms for the great honour that they had done him . Bro . W . Pallant and Bro . F . Evans , of Ilford , and Bro . E . H . Taylor , of Maldon , responded for the Visitors .

The concluding toast was that of the Officers of the Lodge . Bro . W . K . Marriott , in replying , congratulated the Lodge upon the wise selection they had made in their W . M ., and assured him that he would receive the loyal support of the whole of his Officers . Similar sentiments were expressed by the other Officers , who also responded .

Logic Club.

LOGIC CLUB .

Presentation to Brother Preceptor Manuel . WE sometimes wonder how it would fare with the majority of the members of the Craft if they were really called upon to prove themselves Freemasons by signs , and we cannot help the feeling that a very large number of them would present a sorry spectacle . Our reason for saying so is because hardly one

in twenty who attend an ordinary Lodge meeting seem able—or perhaps we had better say willing—to properly stand to order in the different degrees or salute the chair on their entrance or departure . It may be a few of the delinquents are really ignorant of what is exactly required , but we believe it is awkwardness , fatigue , or a disinclination to show too much formality that is the real cause of what we regard as a fault in

our system ; the Past Masters of the Lodges and the older members being , more often than not , conspicuous in the matter ; they often saluting the chair with a sort of familiarity that breeds contempt air , which can hardly be ascribed to ignorance on their part of what is actually required ; indeed , were it not that they are properly ' * vouched for , " it would almost be excusable to sometimes wonder if they were really properly made members of the Order .

Hence it is we hail with satisfaction any attempt on the part of the Preceptors of our Lodges of Instruction , and others to whom we look for tuition , to pay particular attention to the actual forms of Freemasonry , as distinct from the ritual of the different ceremonies . It should be borne in mind that less than

half a dozen members of a Lodge are actively engaged in the conferring of a degree , while every member is called upon more than once at every meeting to display proficiency in the very important , though often regarded as secondary matter of form . We are pleased to think that many of the Preceptors now recognise this , and make a point of impressing on their pupils

that something more is necessary , when called upon to stand to order as a Freemason , than the mere rising from one ' s seat ; and we take some little credit to ourselves for this improvement , for the reason that we have frequently called attention to the subject , and have thereby created an interest in a portion of the work that was too often regarded as of very minor importance . One

can hardly wonder at the laxity in this matter if notice is taken of the manner in which the ordinary Master communicates the signs to a newly admitted candidate . The Master probably knows exactly what he wishes to convey ; too many of them lack the ability to make their intentions clear to the candidate , who , they appear to sometimes forget , is entirely ignorant of the whole affair .

Foremost among those who enjoy the reputation of being particular in this respect is Bro . Robert Manuel P . M . of the Urban Lodge , No . 1196 , Preceptor of the Logic Club , to which we paid a visit on Sunday last at the regular quarters , at Bro . Edward Humphrey's " Cavendish" Rooms , Mortimer Street , Cavendish Square , the usual hour of meeting there being 11 . 15 a . m . ; we were very pleased with our reception , and the work we witnessed on the occasion .