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Consecration Of The St. Clair Lodge, No. 2074.

CONSECRATION OF THE ST . CLAIR LODGE , No . 2074 .

ON Tuesday , the 28 th ult ., the R . W . Provincial Grand Master of Freemasons of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight ( Bro . W . W . B . Beacb , M . P . ) , attended at the Freemasons' Hall , Landport , for the purpose of constituting a new Lodge , to be called the "St . Clair " Lodge , No . 2074 , and of which Captain W . H . C . St . Clair , R . N ., was designated the first W . M . The P . G . Master was supported by

a large and influential gathering of members of the Craft , including the following : —Bros . J . E . LeFeuvre Deputy P . G . Master , Major W . Shalden Smith , Mark E . Frost , Rev . A . C . Hervey Chaplain , Edgar Goble Secretary , R . J . Rastrick Treasnrer , R . W . Mitchell , Major Hooper , George Bond , J . W . Willmott , Frances Powell , J . W .

Laverty , Rev . E . K . Kendall Chaplain ( Cornwall ) , Rev . G . H . De Fraine Chaplain , H . Cawte , J . Woodhouse , J . Johns , H . W . Townsend , Ernest Hall Superintendent of Works , Edward Goldsmith , A . R . Holbrook , T . P . Palsgrave , T . H . Williams , W . Stanley , G . R . Strick , J . E . Buck , W . D . Parkhouse , J . Pomeroy , T . D . Askew , Latimer H .

Saunders , J . Lind , T . Francis , and S . Hyne Past Masters ; John Dempsey 903 , J . C . Arlidge 1638 , Arthur Jolliffe 257 , H . E . Loader 487 , W . Miles 1776 , H . Long 1903 , E . Nayler 1928 , J . W . Gieve 309 , Lieutenant Parker , R . N ., E . Hopkins , W . Beckley , A . W . Hewefct , G . Young , J . Ayton , H . M . Richards , J . Godding , W . Miller ,

T . Stretton , G . D . Lovegrove , J . Ludwig , R . Hyde , J . Jackson , J . Green , W . A . Hill , T . Heyes , W . Atkinson , E . Herbert Cooper , Major W . Campbell , A . Fletcher , A . 0 . Brookland , G . Sylvester , J . Armstrong , G . F . Williams , F . W . C . Waters , C . W . Bevis , W . Warne , J . W . Boughton , J . Jenkins , W . H . Bolitho , J . S . Senior , T .

Palmer , J . Fowler , T . F . Wilton , W . H . Baker , and the following founders of the Lodge : —Captain W . H . 0 . St . Clair , R . N ., J . Brickwood , C . V . Birch , William Dart , H . Kimber , G . P . Arnold , T . H . Woodrow , J . Wickens , Otway C . Cox , J . S . Gurden , A . R . Jones , G . Attrill , W . Hioken , E . Boorman , T . Drury , W . Holloway , J . Agnew ,

J . G . Harris , J . Dyson , B . J . Donnellan , Dr . C . F . Garrett , W . Gunnell , and S . Baker . The brethren having assembled in the Lodge room , the Prov . Grand Master addressed them on the nature of the meeting , and congratulated the new Lodge on having started nnder such favourable auspices . Tho ceremony of constitution was

then proceeded with , the proceedings being conducted throughout by the P . G . M . in a most impressive manner . The Rev . A . 0 . Hervey , as P . G . Chaplain delivered an ablo and impressing oration on the nature and design of the Institution of Freemasonry , which was , he said , at once the most ancient and the most progressive : the most

local , by virtue of the association of every brother with his own Lodge , and , at tbo same time , the most cosmopolitan throughout the campass of the whole world . A Mason might everywhere find a brother , and receive thafc help and fraternal sympathy of which he stood in need . With regard to the ancient character of Freemasonry ,

institutions which were really Masonic , whatever their Egyptian or Greek or Phoenician names might be , existed more than 3000 years ago . A writer of authority stated that without entertaining any extravagant opinions respecting the antiquity of the Order , it must be universally acknowledged thafc there is a striking resemblance

between the Institution of Freemasonry and the Dionysian Mysteries , as well as between the more recent institutions of the Pythagorean . The Dionysians of Asia Minor , 1500 years B . C ., possessed the exclusive right of building all temples and other stately edifices , They had attained considerable reputation , and were known to each other

throughout all Asia , and aa far as India , by appropriate signs ; they were , moreover , formed into Lodges , and ifc was their regular practice to assist and relieve their poorer brethren . Flourishing as they did in the immediate neighbourhood of Judea , it was nob afc all unlikely thafc they would labour with fche Jewish nations in the

construction of a temple afc Jerusalem . As to the nature aud design of Freemasonry , they were taught that it was a perfect system of morality . Ifc was more than this—it was a society of men bound together for the purpose of carrying out thafc system of morality , and for practising charity in its widest sense . Their signs and symbols

were not frivolous and vain , bufc were calculated to teach important lessons to the thoughtful mind . They reminded them of their moralit y , and taught them how to conduct themselves . It was objected by some against Masonry that it was a secret society . But they did not keep their object secret ; they only concealed their

forms and ceremonies . The efforts of tho society were patent to every man in the existence of their noble institutions for the relief of the aged and the education of the young . He was sure that thafc occasion must be a source of gratification to the P . G . M ., as showing that the noble principles of their Order wero so spreading

themselves , and the W . M . and Officers of the St . Clair Lodge must be gratified at the large attendance on thafc occasion , but while it was a source of gratification it was also one of anxiety . Under certain conditions Masonry refused no man , but he feared many crowded

mto it under the belief that it partook of the nature of a benefit i societ y , and ifc was therefore their duty to use caution in the { selection of members . At the conclusion of the ceremony of consti-1 tution tho P . G . M . installed Captain St . Clair as Master of tho new j Lod ge and the Officers were appointed for the following year , ns under : —Bros . W . Dart acting I . P . M ., J . Briokwood S . W ., 0 . V . )

Consecration Of The St. Clair Lodge, No. 2074.

Birch J . W ., H . Kimber Treasurer , G . P . Arnold Secretary , Woodrow S . D ., Wickens J . D ., Jones Organist , Otway C . Cox I . G ., Gordon Miller D . C , Garden and Donnellan Stewards , Excell Tyler . A vote of thanks was accorded to the Prov . Grand Master for bis kindness in attending , and for the able manner in which he conducted the

ceremony , and the Lodge was closed in due form . Tho musical portions of the ceremony were ably conducted by Bro . G . Sylvester . The brethren subsequently adjonrned to fche dining room of the club , and sat down to a banqnefc . Captain St . Clair presided , supported

by Bro . LeFenvre , Deputy Provincial Grand Master , and a large nnmber of brethren from different parts of the Province . The P . G . M . was compelled to leave immediately after the Lodge business was over , to keep an important engagement in London . —Portsmouth Times .

Reviews.

REVIEWS .

AU Books intended for Review should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , Belvidere "Works , Hermes Hill , Pentonville , London , W . — : o : — " Freemasonry from the Great Pyramid of Ancient Times . Historically Illustrated and Compiled from Researches , Ancient and

Modern , Biblical , Astronomical , Mathematical , Geometrical , and Geographical . The whole forming a concise sequence , coequal , parallel and working smoothly in the one groove , side by side , without so much as a damaged link in the chain of Masonic rite , and in surprising unison wifch our Fifteen Lectures . To which is

added the Practical Working , Construction , and Probable Geometrical Draft or Plan of the Pyramid : showing the parts , by illustra - tions , capable and intended to be removed without disfigurement

or abrasion , and disclosing other Chambers and Hidden Mysteries now obscured from our view . " Printed for Bro . Thos . Holland P . M . 1224 and 172 , Sec . 1891 and P . P . G . D . C . Suffolk , and published by the Author , 2 Charleg-streefc , Rutland Gate , London , s XV 18 SS

THIS is an extraordinary book . Ifc abounds in startling assertions and speculations . Unfortunately , ifc is marred by many crudities of style , is very uneven in diction , as if ifc were the production of more than one mind . Tho author says he is indebted to other writers for much thafc appears in his work , and ifc may happen that ho has

unconsciously used tbeir language instead of hia own in some instances . Bro . Holland is nofc altogether unmindful of his position . In his preface he asks thafc he " may be criticised with gentleness and forbearance , " and as he thus restrains , if he does not quite disarm , criticism , ifc will be enough to say thafc fche work

would bo benefited by a careful revision by some skilful hand . Nofc only would unity of stylo have been secured , bufc fche educated taste of those most likely to understand and appreciate the writer ' s views would have been , satisfied . Brother Holland knows more of fche science of building than ho does of bookmakin ™ . He is so earnest however , so full of faith , and

has spent so much labour upon his work , that to deny him a hearing would be to shatter one of the most cherished hopes of his life . Some of his assumptions will be considered Quixotic , while many of them partake more of the character of a wish than of a conviction , yet there is something in his faith and simplicity that

cannot be put aside with contempt . His theory is built up step by step . Bro . Holland is historian , philosopher , and prophet , and in . his three-fold character ifc would be strange if he did nofc offer something worthy of contemplation . His great idea is to show a connection between the Scriptures and Freemasonry , and he takes the great

Pyramid of Gizeh for his object lesson . This huge structure , one of thirty-eight , stands alone in its majesty and purpose . The other buildings , having the same outlines , have no interest for Bro ; Holland . Ifc is the monarch of Gizeh , thafc monument of science and labour , resting on and covering something like thirteen acres of a

levelled rocky platform , thafc contains tho grand lessons of life . The outward form and positions , the inward recesses and measurements , all teach universal truths in mathematics and astronomy specifically , and in all the sciences generally . The building was erected over four thousands years ago by Shem , the eldest son of Noah , and his

wise followers . Bro . Holland says there was only ono life , that of Methuseleh , between Shem and Adam , and that he had shaken hands with Mefchuseleh , who had shaken hands wifch Adam . Shem wns the great-greafc grandfather of Abraham , whom he survived . Noah ' s Ark was bnilfc according to Divine instructions , and as its

measurements find an exact illustration of the same principles in the great Pyramid , it is argued thafc tho latter was erected under supreme guidance . Moreover , the structure shows such manifest signs of science , not possible to the human mind in fchafc age , and not even known now , thafc the great Pyramid looks more like the

work of the T . G . A . O . T . U . than of human hands . There were secrets of building , of science and of prophecy , which were made known to Shorn . Somo of those secreta bave been revealed by measurement of the great Pyramid , and others are still hidden , awaiting the time when prophesy shall be farther fall ' tlled . The knowledge of fche sonrets was entrusted to what Bro . Holland would call the fathers of

the Craft , and they have been handed clown from one generation to another ; that their complete fulfilment is within the grasp of the time of the living , and thafc it will be accomplished by the chosen of God , the Freemasons , who aro the inheritors of Shem , the trusted descendants of the Israelites .

We have already referred to the magnitude of tho Great Pyramid , taking into account the ground it covers ; but a few other facts will best " illustrate its stupendous proportions and the lessons its position and character disclose . It is four hundred and ei"hfcy . six feet high , aud at one time its four sides presented polished surfaces , which have been removed by the destroying hands