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Installation Meetings, &C.
INSTALLATION MEETINGS , & c .
tnt . —» u , — MOIRA LODGE , No . 92 . THE Annual Festival of this Lodge , which is held on tho anniversary of the birth of Lord Moira , took place on Monday , at the Criterion Restaurant , Piccadilly . On this occasion the Lodge was opened by the W . M ., Bro . Wiokham Noakes , and his Officers , who were supported by a goodly assemblage of the Past Masters and members of the Lodge , with the following Visitors : —Joshua Nunn
P . G . S . B ., II . G . Buss Assist . G . Seo ., J . M . Hare 1820 , H . Western P . M . 231 W . M . Adelphi Lodge , J . H . Smith 279 , G . A . Wallia P . M , 916 . Thos . Kirkness J . D . 170 , J . B . Lambe 145 , H . Dumbleton Apollo University Lodge , C . Kerr 1067 , Thos . Harrison St . Mary's Lodae , W . 3 . C . Palmer 1503 , Dr . Robert Cross P . M . 189 , W . H . E . Miller P . M . 1148 , T . P . Child 185 , G . B . Browne 25 , L A . Wild 9 B ,
D . C . Nichols P . M . 198 , J . Whitehead 369 , W . W . Morgan Seo . 211 , R . G . Webster , T . C . Robarts of the Westminster and Keystone , & o . After the preliminary business had been transacted , the W . M . elect , Bro . Harold Carter , was introduced , and Bro . Josiah Honle P . M ., who ably officiated as Installing Master , administered the customary obligation . In due course a Board of Installed Masters was
formed , and Bro . Carter was placed in the chair as W . M . for the ensuing twelvemonths . The investiture of Officers waa then proceeded with , the following being the brethren selected . Bros . G . C . Andrew S . W ., H . F . Anldjo J . W ., E . Home P . M . Treasurer , Josiah Honle P . M . Secretary , T . Wilkinson S . D ., William Bohm J . D ., A . Dent I . G ., T . C . Speight P . M . Tyler . Past Master Bro . Honlo
then delivered the several addresses in a masterly manner , and after the transaction of routine business , Lodge was closed . After a brief interval , the banquet was served in the Prince's Room—one of the suite of apartments specially designed by Messrs . Spiers and Pond for their Masonic supporters—( and to their adaptability for the purpose we refer iu another part of our present issue ) . The efforts
of the caterers on this occasion were ominently successful , and justice was done to the excellent menu provided . Ou the removal of the cloth , the W . M ., Bro . Harold Carter , briefly introduced the Loyal toasts , which received full honour . With the toast of the Grand Officers was associated the names of Bros . Joshua Nunn and H . G . Buss . The W . M . spoke of the excellent qualities exhibited by Bro .
Nunn mhis capacity as Vice-President of the Lodge of Benevolence . In speaking of Bro . Bnss , Bro . Carter regretted the illness of Bro . John Hervey , which bad necessitated the resignation by him of the post of Grand Secretary . However , in Bro . Boss they had one able and willing to cany on the work of the Grand Secretary ' s office , and he had great pleasuro in calling on the brethren to hononr the
toast . This having been suitably acknowledged , the W . Master called on Bro . R . F . Gould to propose the toast of the evening , which that Brother did in the following eloquent terms : — Brethren , —By the command of the W . M ., it becomes my duty to introduce to yon the toast of the evening , tho memory of Earl Moira , the patron of this Lodge , and in so doing I bespeak your indulgence ,
whnsfc for the sixth consecutive year I attempt to place before yon a brief rtsumi of the history of this Lodge , and of its connection with the honoured name of "Moira . " As a Lodgo we date our existence from 1755 , just five years prior to the accession of King George III . Afc this early stage of the Lodge's career there is little to chronicle . We were born , ifc may be said , " of poor but respectable "
parents ; and in a humble way commenced our Masonic life at the Swan in Upper Mount-place , Grosvenor-square . Thence we moved from tavern to tavern ; and hero I may remind you , Brethren , that in those days Lodges did not possess distinctive titles , but were called after the names of the publics at which they met . VVhen our earliest minutes cease , viz . in 1767 , we were pleasantly located at the King ' a
Arms , Tower-street , Seven Dials . Passing rapidly over the first stage of onr existence , I now come to tbe year 1776 , and if you will again permit me to bringbome this date to your minds by the citation of an historical events—this was the year in which occurred the celebrated declaration of American Independence , when , in lien of the public house sign by which we had been hitherto distinguished , the
name was taken of the Lodge of Freedom and Ease . For nearly thirty years this title was retained , and in the Feemason ' s Calendar for 1803 we are described as the Lodge of Freedom and Ease at the Three Jolly Butchers , Old-strect-road . During this year , 1803 , we , however , dropped our old designation , and blossomed into the Moira Lodge , at the new London Tavern , Cheapside . How and under what
circumstances this alteration occurred I shall briefly describe . Francis Earl Moira , and later on Marquis of Hastings , the eldest son of the first Earl Moira , was born on the 7 th December 1754 , and at the ago of seventeen , then bearing theconrtesy title of Lord Rawdon , obtained a commission in the Army , and two years afterwards emharked for America , where he saw a great deal of active service . For
his gallantry at Bunker ' s Hill he was especially complimented by General Burgoyne , and after serving with equal credit at the battles of Brooklyn and White Plains , the attacks on Fort Washington , and other affairs , in 1778 he was appointed Adjutant-General of the . Army , and for his services in this capacity was entrusted , at the battle of Camden , with the command of a wing of the Army , and
subsequently , at Hobkirk ' s Hill , commanded the entire force , and defeated General Greene , one of the ablest of the American Generals . Returning to England , in 1783 he was appointed Aide . de-Camp to the King , and created an English Peer , as Baron Rawdon of Rawdon . In 1793 he succeeded his father , as second Earl Moira . The same year he was
promoted Major-General , and in 1794 commanded an English force of 10 , 000 men sent to reinforce the Duke of York iu Holland . In 1812 he was entrusted with the duty of forming an administration , but failed . In 1813 he was appointed Govemor-General and Commander-in-Chief , in India , and having brought two great wars to a uccessful termination , returned to England as Marquis of Hastings
Installation Meetings, &C.
in 1823 . Next year he waa Governor of Malta . In 1826 he died , on board one of Her Majesty ' s ships , at Baiae Bay , near Naples . Earl Moira ' s Masonic services were of an equally distinguished character , and I will pass them briefly in review . In 1789 , he was appointed by the Duke of Cumberland ( the G . M . ) acting G . M ., which position he rilled until his departure for India , in 1813 . In 1801 he
became tho patron of this Lodge , which has aince been designated by his name , and has held its Annual Festival on his birthday About , the same time ho was elected , whilst Commander-in-Chief iu Scotland , acting Grand Master of Scottish Masons . In January 1813 , on his leaving for India , a testimonial of tho value of £ 1 , 000 was presented him by the Craft ,
together with a jewelled collar of the additional value of £ 1 , 500 . The Dnke of Sussex presided , and no less than six Royal dukes wero present . Earl Moirn , on this occasiou , delivered one of his greatest Masonic orations , all of which—and they were many—amply deserve the enlnginmof Sir James Burnes , who justly pronounced LordMoira ' s eloquent exposition of Masonic principles as being altogether
unparalleled . The same high authority styles Earl Moira—or , aa he waR later , Marquis of Hastings—as the most chivalrous character of modern times , and recounts "how his lordship , impressed with devotion for the Craft and love for all the brethren , descended from hia high estate , as Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief in India , and , within the halls of his own palace , offered the right hand of
fellowship , with his parting benediction , to every soldier , individually , that wore an aprou ; acknowledging also his pride that Masonio principles had influenced him in the exercise of bis authority . " In 1823 , on his return from India , great preparations were made by this Lodge to entertain him at a grand banquet , at which the Dnke of Sussex was to have presided , and which was to have been open to the
entire Craft , but which , owing to hia lordship's ill health , was first postponed , and afterwards reluctantly abandoned . Brethren , toreturn once more to our Lodge . You will recollect that I brought up my summary to the year 1804 , when we becamo the Moira Lodge , and in a few concluding words I will endeavour to put before yon how and in what manner we have snstained the prestige of the illustrious
name by which we have been since distinguished . Our Lodge minutes , which cease in 1767 , recommence in 1814 . The Duke of Sussex appears to havo been a very frequent visitor , and from 1814 to tbe present date we havo had many members of the Lodge who have been distinguished in the Craft . Our oldest living initiate is Sir Moses Montefiore , who was received into Masonry in this Lodge on
13 th April 1813 . Our roll of Past Masters contains some notable names . Beginning with Bro . Samuel Cardoza , who joined the Lodge in 1807 and died in 1839 , 1 may mention that when on his death-bed , nnd lying bereft of speech , such was his attachment to tho Craft that he took faiewell of a brother who had called to see him , by distinctly and emphatically making use of a Masonic sign . The next name I
shall mention will be thafc of Bro . Henry Phillips , who , when Masonic scholarship was rarer than it now is , made an excellent copy of one of the Harleian MSS ., which he published in the Freemason ' s Quarterly Review for 1835 . Bro . Isaac Walton is the next worthy to whom I shall nllnde , and his exortions in the cause of Masonic charity will live for all time . The present Royal Masonio Benevolent Insti .
tution owes its primary origin to two well-known brethren—the late Bros . Crucefix and Walton . Bro . Crncefix fi unded the Asylum , and Bro . Walton first suggested the scheme of tho Annuity Fund . Bro . John Bigg was one of our shining lights ; during the two years of his Mastership he initiated thirty . five candidates ; and was pre . sented in 1836 by this Lodge with a jewel of the value of £ 40 ; he
was favourably known in Grand Lodge as a most eloquent Bpeaker , and both in the Parliament of the Craft , and on the Board of General Purposes , was distinguished by a most sturdy independence . Bro . Potter , late Secondary of the City of London , will have been known to many present . He was Master of this Lodge in 1848-49 , and in 1850 J . G . D . Many , like myself , will preserve a vivid recollection of bis
last appearance among us . Ifc was eight years ago , at the Annual Festival of 1871 , when ho was suddenly struck down , whilst address , ing the brethren in response to the toast of his health . To the Lodge ' s appreciation of his sterling merits is due the existence of our present Potter Memorial Fund , and though it is doubted by somo whether or not the formation of private benevolent fnnds , by individual
Lodges , is favourable to the more general spread of Masonic relief , in its widest sense , I may be permitted to digress for a moment to remind the brethren of the familiar story of the old woman , whoso cow always gave more milk than those of her neighbours , which sho acconnted for by saying thafc she milked ifc oftener . Brethren , the name of thafc cow was Charity , and under reasonable limits it cannot
be milked too often . The last name I shall cite of our Lodgo worthies will bo thafc of Bro . Cornelius Thome , twenty-seven years a member of this Lodge , and who now worthily presides over the Craft in North China as District Grand Master . Brethren , there have been many eminent men , of whom it may be truly said , that they are now too much forgotten . The name of the chivalrous Earl Moira
may be included in this category , but I venture to predict , thafc should an accurate history of English Freemasonry be ever written , no name on the glorious bendroll of our Masonic worthies will stand out in holder relief , as the embodiment of those virtues and excellencies , which are inculcated in the teachings of the Craft , than thafc of the illnstriouB nobleman whoso connection with this Lodge wo arc met
together to commemorate , and who has Leen well described by a distinguished companion in arms—as the scholar of the camp , the patriot , the benefactor of the poor , and one of the brightest ornament . - * of his country . Brother Wickham Noakes proposed the health of tho W . M . This duty was always considered one of great hononr in the Moira Lodge , and on this occasion he ( the speaker ) had great
pleasure in performing the taste . This compliment was gracefnlly acknowledged by the W . M ., who next proposed the Past Master *) . For the toast of the Visitors Bro . Dr . Robert Cross responded , and then came that of the Treasnrer and Secretary , the Senior and Junior Wardens , and the other Officers of the Lodge . In each case brief responses were offered , and then the Tyler gave tho parting
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Installation Meetings, &C.
INSTALLATION MEETINGS , & c .
tnt . —» u , — MOIRA LODGE , No . 92 . THE Annual Festival of this Lodge , which is held on tho anniversary of the birth of Lord Moira , took place on Monday , at the Criterion Restaurant , Piccadilly . On this occasion the Lodge was opened by the W . M ., Bro . Wiokham Noakes , and his Officers , who were supported by a goodly assemblage of the Past Masters and members of the Lodge , with the following Visitors : —Joshua Nunn
P . G . S . B ., II . G . Buss Assist . G . Seo ., J . M . Hare 1820 , H . Western P . M . 231 W . M . Adelphi Lodge , J . H . Smith 279 , G . A . Wallia P . M , 916 . Thos . Kirkness J . D . 170 , J . B . Lambe 145 , H . Dumbleton Apollo University Lodge , C . Kerr 1067 , Thos . Harrison St . Mary's Lodae , W . 3 . C . Palmer 1503 , Dr . Robert Cross P . M . 189 , W . H . E . Miller P . M . 1148 , T . P . Child 185 , G . B . Browne 25 , L A . Wild 9 B ,
D . C . Nichols P . M . 198 , J . Whitehead 369 , W . W . Morgan Seo . 211 , R . G . Webster , T . C . Robarts of the Westminster and Keystone , & o . After the preliminary business had been transacted , the W . M . elect , Bro . Harold Carter , was introduced , and Bro . Josiah Honle P . M ., who ably officiated as Installing Master , administered the customary obligation . In due course a Board of Installed Masters was
formed , and Bro . Carter was placed in the chair as W . M . for the ensuing twelvemonths . The investiture of Officers waa then proceeded with , the following being the brethren selected . Bros . G . C . Andrew S . W ., H . F . Anldjo J . W ., E . Home P . M . Treasurer , Josiah Honle P . M . Secretary , T . Wilkinson S . D ., William Bohm J . D ., A . Dent I . G ., T . C . Speight P . M . Tyler . Past Master Bro . Honlo
then delivered the several addresses in a masterly manner , and after the transaction of routine business , Lodge was closed . After a brief interval , the banquet was served in the Prince's Room—one of the suite of apartments specially designed by Messrs . Spiers and Pond for their Masonic supporters—( and to their adaptability for the purpose we refer iu another part of our present issue ) . The efforts
of the caterers on this occasion were ominently successful , and justice was done to the excellent menu provided . Ou the removal of the cloth , the W . M ., Bro . Harold Carter , briefly introduced the Loyal toasts , which received full honour . With the toast of the Grand Officers was associated the names of Bros . Joshua Nunn and H . G . Buss . The W . M . spoke of the excellent qualities exhibited by Bro .
Nunn mhis capacity as Vice-President of the Lodge of Benevolence . In speaking of Bro . Bnss , Bro . Carter regretted the illness of Bro . John Hervey , which bad necessitated the resignation by him of the post of Grand Secretary . However , in Bro . Boss they had one able and willing to cany on the work of the Grand Secretary ' s office , and he had great pleasuro in calling on the brethren to hononr the
toast . This having been suitably acknowledged , the W . Master called on Bro . R . F . Gould to propose the toast of the evening , which that Brother did in the following eloquent terms : — Brethren , —By the command of the W . M ., it becomes my duty to introduce to yon the toast of the evening , tho memory of Earl Moira , the patron of this Lodge , and in so doing I bespeak your indulgence ,
whnsfc for the sixth consecutive year I attempt to place before yon a brief rtsumi of the history of this Lodge , and of its connection with the honoured name of "Moira . " As a Lodgo we date our existence from 1755 , just five years prior to the accession of King George III . Afc this early stage of the Lodge's career there is little to chronicle . We were born , ifc may be said , " of poor but respectable "
parents ; and in a humble way commenced our Masonic life at the Swan in Upper Mount-place , Grosvenor-square . Thence we moved from tavern to tavern ; and hero I may remind you , Brethren , that in those days Lodges did not possess distinctive titles , but were called after the names of the publics at which they met . VVhen our earliest minutes cease , viz . in 1767 , we were pleasantly located at the King ' a
Arms , Tower-street , Seven Dials . Passing rapidly over the first stage of onr existence , I now come to tbe year 1776 , and if you will again permit me to bringbome this date to your minds by the citation of an historical events—this was the year in which occurred the celebrated declaration of American Independence , when , in lien of the public house sign by which we had been hitherto distinguished , the
name was taken of the Lodge of Freedom and Ease . For nearly thirty years this title was retained , and in the Feemason ' s Calendar for 1803 we are described as the Lodge of Freedom and Ease at the Three Jolly Butchers , Old-strect-road . During this year , 1803 , we , however , dropped our old designation , and blossomed into the Moira Lodge , at the new London Tavern , Cheapside . How and under what
circumstances this alteration occurred I shall briefly describe . Francis Earl Moira , and later on Marquis of Hastings , the eldest son of the first Earl Moira , was born on the 7 th December 1754 , and at the ago of seventeen , then bearing theconrtesy title of Lord Rawdon , obtained a commission in the Army , and two years afterwards emharked for America , where he saw a great deal of active service . For
his gallantry at Bunker ' s Hill he was especially complimented by General Burgoyne , and after serving with equal credit at the battles of Brooklyn and White Plains , the attacks on Fort Washington , and other affairs , in 1778 he was appointed Adjutant-General of the . Army , and for his services in this capacity was entrusted , at the battle of Camden , with the command of a wing of the Army , and
subsequently , at Hobkirk ' s Hill , commanded the entire force , and defeated General Greene , one of the ablest of the American Generals . Returning to England , in 1783 he was appointed Aide . de-Camp to the King , and created an English Peer , as Baron Rawdon of Rawdon . In 1793 he succeeded his father , as second Earl Moira . The same year he was
promoted Major-General , and in 1794 commanded an English force of 10 , 000 men sent to reinforce the Duke of York iu Holland . In 1812 he was entrusted with the duty of forming an administration , but failed . In 1813 he was appointed Govemor-General and Commander-in-Chief , in India , and having brought two great wars to a uccessful termination , returned to England as Marquis of Hastings
Installation Meetings, &C.
in 1823 . Next year he waa Governor of Malta . In 1826 he died , on board one of Her Majesty ' s ships , at Baiae Bay , near Naples . Earl Moira ' s Masonic services were of an equally distinguished character , and I will pass them briefly in review . In 1789 , he was appointed by the Duke of Cumberland ( the G . M . ) acting G . M ., which position he rilled until his departure for India , in 1813 . In 1801 he
became tho patron of this Lodge , which has aince been designated by his name , and has held its Annual Festival on his birthday About , the same time ho was elected , whilst Commander-in-Chief iu Scotland , acting Grand Master of Scottish Masons . In January 1813 , on his leaving for India , a testimonial of tho value of £ 1 , 000 was presented him by the Craft ,
together with a jewelled collar of the additional value of £ 1 , 500 . The Dnke of Sussex presided , and no less than six Royal dukes wero present . Earl Moirn , on this occasiou , delivered one of his greatest Masonic orations , all of which—and they were many—amply deserve the enlnginmof Sir James Burnes , who justly pronounced LordMoira ' s eloquent exposition of Masonic principles as being altogether
unparalleled . The same high authority styles Earl Moira—or , aa he waR later , Marquis of Hastings—as the most chivalrous character of modern times , and recounts "how his lordship , impressed with devotion for the Craft and love for all the brethren , descended from hia high estate , as Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief in India , and , within the halls of his own palace , offered the right hand of
fellowship , with his parting benediction , to every soldier , individually , that wore an aprou ; acknowledging also his pride that Masonio principles had influenced him in the exercise of bis authority . " In 1823 , on his return from India , great preparations were made by this Lodge to entertain him at a grand banquet , at which the Dnke of Sussex was to have presided , and which was to have been open to the
entire Craft , but which , owing to hia lordship's ill health , was first postponed , and afterwards reluctantly abandoned . Brethren , toreturn once more to our Lodge . You will recollect that I brought up my summary to the year 1804 , when we becamo the Moira Lodge , and in a few concluding words I will endeavour to put before yon how and in what manner we have snstained the prestige of the illustrious
name by which we have been since distinguished . Our Lodge minutes , which cease in 1767 , recommence in 1814 . The Duke of Sussex appears to havo been a very frequent visitor , and from 1814 to tbe present date we havo had many members of the Lodge who have been distinguished in the Craft . Our oldest living initiate is Sir Moses Montefiore , who was received into Masonry in this Lodge on
13 th April 1813 . Our roll of Past Masters contains some notable names . Beginning with Bro . Samuel Cardoza , who joined the Lodge in 1807 and died in 1839 , 1 may mention that when on his death-bed , nnd lying bereft of speech , such was his attachment to tho Craft that he took faiewell of a brother who had called to see him , by distinctly and emphatically making use of a Masonic sign . The next name I
shall mention will be thafc of Bro . Henry Phillips , who , when Masonic scholarship was rarer than it now is , made an excellent copy of one of the Harleian MSS ., which he published in the Freemason ' s Quarterly Review for 1835 . Bro . Isaac Walton is the next worthy to whom I shall nllnde , and his exortions in the cause of Masonic charity will live for all time . The present Royal Masonio Benevolent Insti .
tution owes its primary origin to two well-known brethren—the late Bros . Crucefix and Walton . Bro . Crncefix fi unded the Asylum , and Bro . Walton first suggested the scheme of tho Annuity Fund . Bro . John Bigg was one of our shining lights ; during the two years of his Mastership he initiated thirty . five candidates ; and was pre . sented in 1836 by this Lodge with a jewel of the value of £ 40 ; he
was favourably known in Grand Lodge as a most eloquent Bpeaker , and both in the Parliament of the Craft , and on the Board of General Purposes , was distinguished by a most sturdy independence . Bro . Potter , late Secondary of the City of London , will have been known to many present . He was Master of this Lodge in 1848-49 , and in 1850 J . G . D . Many , like myself , will preserve a vivid recollection of bis
last appearance among us . Ifc was eight years ago , at the Annual Festival of 1871 , when ho was suddenly struck down , whilst address , ing the brethren in response to the toast of his health . To the Lodge ' s appreciation of his sterling merits is due the existence of our present Potter Memorial Fund , and though it is doubted by somo whether or not the formation of private benevolent fnnds , by individual
Lodges , is favourable to the more general spread of Masonic relief , in its widest sense , I may be permitted to digress for a moment to remind the brethren of the familiar story of the old woman , whoso cow always gave more milk than those of her neighbours , which sho acconnted for by saying thafc she milked ifc oftener . Brethren , the name of thafc cow was Charity , and under reasonable limits it cannot
be milked too often . The last name I shall cite of our Lodgo worthies will bo thafc of Bro . Cornelius Thome , twenty-seven years a member of this Lodge , and who now worthily presides over the Craft in North China as District Grand Master . Brethren , there have been many eminent men , of whom it may be truly said , that they are now too much forgotten . The name of the chivalrous Earl Moira
may be included in this category , but I venture to predict , thafc should an accurate history of English Freemasonry be ever written , no name on the glorious bendroll of our Masonic worthies will stand out in holder relief , as the embodiment of those virtues and excellencies , which are inculcated in the teachings of the Craft , than thafc of the illnstriouB nobleman whoso connection with this Lodge wo arc met
together to commemorate , and who has Leen well described by a distinguished companion in arms—as the scholar of the camp , the patriot , the benefactor of the poor , and one of the brightest ornament . - * of his country . Brother Wickham Noakes proposed the health of tho W . M . This duty was always considered one of great hononr in the Moira Lodge , and on this occasion he ( the speaker ) had great
pleasure in performing the taste . This compliment was gracefnlly acknowledged by the W . M ., who next proposed the Past Master *) . For the toast of the Visitors Bro . Dr . Robert Cross responded , and then came that of the Treasnrer and Secretary , the Senior and Junior Wardens , and the other Officers of the Lodge . In each case brief responses were offered , and then the Tyler gave tho parting