Consecration: Clissold Lodge.

CONSECRATION : CLISSOLD LODGE .

THE consecration of a . new Lodge is always an interesting and important ceremony , but it was doubtless owing to the great popularity of Bro . William Mason Stiles , and to the probably unique fact of the Grand Treasurer-elect being installed

as Master of a Lodge , that caused so large an assembly of Grand Officers and Brethren as met at the Eailway Station Hotel , Highbury , N ., on the 29 th ult ., on the occasion of the consecration of the Clissold Lodge , No . 2551 .

With commendable punctuality the Brethren assembled at half past four , and passed into the Lodge to receive the Grand Officers appointed to perform the consecration ceremony , who shortly after arrived .

Bro . Edward Letchworth Grand Secretary presided , and was assisted by the following Grand Officers : —Charles E . Keyser P . G . D . as S . W ., J . H . Matthews P . D . G . D . C . as J . W ., Bey , J . Studholme Brownrigg P . G . C . as Chaplain , Frank Richardson P . G . D . as D . C , and C . F . Matier P . G . S . B . as I . G .

The Founders of the Lodge were represented by Bros . W . M . Stiles Master designate , J . J . Lamigeon , R . Emery , C . F . Hogard , W . W . Hayworth , T . Carleton , Alfred H . Cooper , Harry Townend , W . R . Itter , H . Kenney , S . Trevor Prince , Montague Hibberd , W . Hicklin , E . Warner , W . Wright , F . G . Street , G .

a . Elliott , C . H . Cox , W . B . Trick ; and among those present were Bros . Capt . T . C . Walls G . St . Br ., George Read G . St . Br ., Edward Terry P . G . T ., James Terry P . G . S . B ., H . Sadler Grand Tyler , H . Gross P . D . C . Kent , C . A . Gompertz P . P . G . S . B . Herts ., Ii G . James P . G . S . B . Berks ., Sir John A . Hanhain P . M . 1523 , C . Lewis P . M . 2206 , A . H . Cole W . M . 1744 , F . Tomlin I . P . M .

1360 , R . J . Bartlett P . M . 2030 , W . W . Lee P . M . 1897 , Orlton

Cooper P . M . 211 , H . Stiles P . M . 1507 , W . A . Scurrah P . M . 167 Arthur H . Scurrah P . M . 2206 , H . C . Turner W . M . 1662 , J . J Thomas P . M . 753 , E . Hobbs I . P . M . 453 , R . S . Taylor W . M 1929 , C . J . Knightley P . M . 1744 , W . VV . Langley I . P . M . 2206

Walter Potter P . M . 1260 , G . P . Pointer P . M . 1613 , J . Brendel W . M ; 27 , C . Mussared P . M . 2500 and 2264 , James Stephens P . M , 1425 , & c , E . Wilding P . M . 1541 , S . H . Baker P . M . 1260 and . 2472 , W . J . Ferguson P . M . 177 , J . Starkey P . M . 132 , Aug . Wilson P . M . 2146 , Walter Martin P . M . 2500 , Thos . Jeffries

S . W . 1744 , W . Bradford P . M . 2168 , J . L . Ellis P . M . 195 , H Sprake P . M . 813 , R . Baker P . M . 2192 , W . G . Welch 1305 , W Harrold 1185 , B . Bridgman 144 , H , A . Badman 1298 , J

Macfarlane S . W . 27 , F . W . Barnham 946 , & c . The Lodge having been opened in the three degrees the opening hymn was sung , after which Bro . Letchworth addressed the Brethren on the subject of their meeting , and stated that

the M . W . the Grand Master having taken into consideration the Petition of the Founders had granted them a Warrant for the Clissold Lodge , and had appointed him as Consecrating Officer . The Grand Chaplain opened the proceedings with prayer . Bro . Frank Richardson then addressed the Master on behalf of

the Founders , who were arranged in the centre of the Lodge , and read the Petition and Warrant . The Brethren signified their approval of the Officers appointed to preside during the ensuing year .

Bro . Brownrigg next advanced to the Master ' s pedestal and delivered a very impressive oration upon the nature and principles of the Institution , which only the solemnity of the occasion prevented from being applauded .

The choir , under the direction of Bro . W . Wright Provincial G . Org . Middlesex , then sang the anthem " Behold how good and joyful a thing , " which was most admirably rendered . The Consecration was then carried out according to ancient custom by Bro . Letchworth , and the Lodge was dedicated and

constituted . At the conclusion of this ceremony Bro . W . M . Stiles was presented by Bro . Richardson for the purpose of being installed as the first Worshipful Master , and a Board of Installed Maste-rs being formed he was placed in the Chair b y Brother Letchworth .

Upon the return of the Brethren Brother Stiles was dulysaluted , and subsequently invested the following Officers : W . W . Hayworth acting I . P . M ., J . J . Lamigeon S . W ., Robert Emery J . W ., Thomas Carleton Treasurer , Chas . Fred . Hogard P . G . S . B ,

Secretary , Harry Townend S . D ., H . Kenney J . D ., Alfred H , Cooper I . G ., W . Hicklin D . C , W . Wright Organist , G . S . Elliott , M . Hibbard and W . R . Itter Stewards , and T . C Edmonds Tyler .

The Bye-laws were decided upon , and several propositions for Joining and Initiation were given in . Bro . Stiles then proposed that a cordial vote of thanks should be accorded to the Grand Officers who had taken part in the

ceremony of Consecration , and as a compliment for their services that they be made Honorary members of the Lodge . As a special mark of recognition he requested the Grand Secretary ' s acceptance of a Founder ' s Jewel , as a souvenir of the occasion .

Bro . Letchworth , on behalf of self and colleagues , returned thanks to the Brethren for their kindness , and said that personally he was most pleased to undertake the important

Consecration: Clissold Lodge.

duties that had devolved upon him , and he should ever regard the jewel as a token of the esteem in which he was held by the members . The W . M . next proposed that the thanks of the Lodge

should be offered to Bro . VV . VV . Hayworth for his present of the Officers Collars and Jewels , and to Bro . Robert Emery , who had presented a very handsome box of Working Tools . The same to be entered upon the Lodge minutes . Needless to say the proposition was carried unanimously .

There being no other business the Lodge was closed in perfect harmony , and the Brethren adjourned to the Banquet-Room , where an excellent repast was served by Bro . P . M . Tuck . Special notice must be given to the highly artistic menus and

musical programmes , containing portraits of the Officers of the Lodge , which were provided by Bro . Alfred H . Cooper the I . G ., and which will doubtless be preserved as an interesting memento of the auspicious occasion . Upon the termination of the banquet the customary Loyal and Masonic toasts were honoured .

Bro . Frank Richardson responded on behalf of the Grand Officers , and expressed : the pleasure it : had been to take part in so interesting a ceremony . He thought that all Grand Officers were only too ready to do any Masonic work to show their gratitude for their appointments .

The W . M ., in giving the Consecrating Officer , said it was always a red letter day in the history of a Lodge when the Grand Secretary paid them a visit , but to-day Bro . Letchworth had brought their Lodge into existence , and it would ever be remembered . He had been associated with Bro . Letchworth on

many occasions , and it was quite a pleasure to have business with him , for he was beloved and esteemed by every member of the Craft ; he considered the Grand Master had shown great foresight in appointing him to his- high position . He heartily thanked him for his presence there that day , and for the splendid services he had rendered .

Bro . Letchworth , on rising to respond , was received with great applause . He said that in conjunction with the other Grand Officers he had been afforded the greatest possible

pleasure in consecrating this , the latest addition to the roll of Lodges , because they one and all felt sure that the Lodge , started under such favourable auspices , would have a splendid future before it .

Before sitting down he would ask them all to drink to the health of their W . M ., whom he had had the pleasure of installing in the chair . He tendered him his hearty congratulations upon the high office he was about to receive at the hands of Grand

Lodge , because he recognised him as a kind , genial and accomplished Brother , who had rendered great service to the Craft in the past , arid would doubtless continue to do so in the future .

Brother Stiles , in reply , said that he greatly appreciated the honour paid to him . It was always pleasant to hear oneself spoken well of , and he would endeavour to deserve the kind words

of the Grand Secretary . He promised during his year of office to do his best to maintain the dignity and integrity of the Lodge , so that when he left the chair they would be able to speak as well of him as at present .

Bros . Sir John Hanham , Capt . T . C . Walls , W . A . Scurrah , James Stephens and S . H . Baker responded for the Visitors , who were over sixty in number . All congratulated Bro . Stiles upon his election as Grand Treasurer ,. and also upon his position as W . M . of the Lodge .

Bro . J . M . McLeod , Secretary of the Boys School , m one of his stirring speeches acknowledged the toast of the Masonic Charities , and urged their claims upon the Brethren ; and the Officers of the Lodge having been complimented Bro . Edmonds was called in and gave the Tyler ' s toast , which brought the pleasant proceedings to a termination at a late hour .

Mr . H . Kemp , of Thavies Inn , usually organises three subscription dances in the course of the year , and , with a generosity characteristic of the Masonic fraternity , invariably devotes the proceeds of the first and last dance to a charity . The Cinderella hold on the 29 th ult ., at the King ' s Hall of the Holborn

Restaurant , was for the benefit of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and it is pleasing to note that Mr . Kemp ' s enterprise will probably result in an addition of twelve or fifteen guineas to the funds of the Institution . The ball passed off most pleasantly ,

some two hundred and fifty people being present , who footed it merrily for many hours to the strains of Mr . G . C . Pritchard's band . The following gentlemen acted as Stewards : Mr . V . Wright , Mr . Banks , and Mr . Jeffreys ; Mr . Kemp himself performing the duties of M . C . — " City Press . ''

Ar00202

OLD Books and Curiosities relating to Freemasonry , Knights Templars , Eosicrucians or other Secret Societies wanted . Address , W . W , Morgan , New Barnet .