Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Consecration Of St. Osyth's Priory Lodge, No. 2063.
ourselves upon the proceedings of this day . The spread of true Masonry is the spread of light and blessing . We do hear of opinions to the contrary , but they are few , and are the result of ignorance . Our principles claim respect from all , for they are the principles of truth and virtue ; they are wise and good . And becanso they aro so , we who range under its banner , are thankful that Masonry , instead
of decreasing iu influence , is increasing in power and might . Its strong arm of support is waxing stronger every day ; its heart of pity finding increased exercise , and its true and beneficent sympathies spreading further and wider . And to us , who know and appreciate the exalted principles of our Order , it is especially gratifying that they are extending in our own Province . We are thankful that this
new Lodge i 3 being conseorated to-day , and heartily wish it Godspeed . May the principles of our Order be thoroughly and heartily maintained in it . May brotherly love , relief , and trnth ever prevail among its members ; and while we trust that they may never know for themselves the bitterness of sorrow , or feel the sharp arrows of adversity or misfortune , may they ever extend the hand of brotherly
love and pity towards all those brethren who aro feeling those adversities . And finally , brethren , maintaining those principles , each for himself , may we carry them out with confidence and perseverance until we are summoned from our labonrs below to higher service above , in that grand and heavenly Temple , where the Sublime Source of all Love , Virtue , and Truth—the World ' s Great
Architect—lives and reigns . At the conclusion of the ceremony the W . M . designate , Brother Sir John Henry Johnson , P . M . 99 , was impressively installed into his office by Brother Philbrick D . P . G . M ., and the following brethren were invested Officers for the year : —Bros . T . D . Hayes P . M . P . Z . 913 acting I . P . M ., W . J . Nunn P . M . 1592 Z . 1008 P . P . G . D . Suffolk
S . W ., C . R . Young P . M . 13 J . W ., John Mann P . M . 51 P . P . G . Sec . Essex Treasurer , Fred . J . Nunn 1799 Secretary , W . M . Foxoroft W . M . 177 S . D ., W . T . Hook J . D . 1642 J . D ., W . Cattermole 1663 I . G ., Finer J . W . 1799 and T . H . Baker 1333 Stewards , Henry Hart Tyler . Votes of thanks were passed to the R . W . P . G . M ., D . P . G . M ., and the other P . G . Officers for the part they had taken in the proceedings of the
day , and they were elected Honorary Members of the Lodge . Several brethren were proposed as joining members , and two or three candidates for initiation . The visitors present having offered their congratulations , the Lodge was closed . The brethren then adjourned to the Royal Hotel , where 109 sat down to bauqnet , elegantly served by the host , Bro . Wallis . The new Worshipful Masterpresided ; he
was supported by the R . W . P . G . M ., V . W . D . P . G . M . anda distingnshed array of Grand and Provincial Grand Officers . Grace was said by the Prov . Grand Chaplain , Brother the Rev . W . Morgan Jones ; and after dinner , " For these and all Thy Meroies , " was beautifully chanted by Bros . Osmond , Turner , Gowers , and Sparling . The W . M . gave the first toast—The Queen and the Craft . Sir
John said it was a great many years since he gave the toast of the Queen from the Chair of a Masonic Lodge , aud therefore it was with the greater pleasure he gave it now . He believed the Queen had no more loyal subjects in her kingdom than tho people of East Essex , and particularly the Freemasons of that district . In speaking to the toast of the M . W . the Grand Master of England , H . R . H . the Prince
of Wales , Sir John said he did nob think it had over been sufficiently appreciated what an enormous benefit it had been to Masonry that His Royal Highness should have accepted tho high position ho held in the Craft . The Prince of Wales had for them , however , a local interest , the lifeboat at Clacton-on-Sea , which had already done such excellent service , was one of two presented by the Freemasons of
•England as a thank-offering for the safe return of His Royal Highness from his tour in India . The Worshipful Master next proposed the Pro Grand Master the Earl of Carnarvon , tho Deputy Grand Master the Earl joi Lathom , and the Present and Past Officers of Grand Lodge , specially alluding to the fact that Lord Lathom had twice done signal service for Freemasonry in that neighbourhood , as his
Lordship had launched the lifeboat to which allusion had already been made ; he had also consecrated the " Arnold Lodge" in the neighbouring town of Walton . Bro . W . Clarke P . G . P . responded . The W . M . said he had now extreme satisfaction in proposing the health of the Right Worshipful the Provincial Grand Master of Essex , Lord Brooke . He was not at all surprised at the enthusiam with which the
brethren received the toast . Lord Brooke , ever since he was installed at Colchester by the Duke of Albany , had evinced the deepest interest in Freemasonry . It might be truly said that he had considerable influence in promoting the increase of Masony within thi 3 Province . I learn ( continued Sir John ) that this is the fourth Lodge that has been consecrated daring his term of Office , and in two of the cases
his lordship has personally performed the ceremony . There is no doubt , therefore , that since Lord Brooke was installed the Craft in Essex has steadily increased . It also shows the interest and influence Lord Brooke wields in Freemasonry that , at the recent Festival of the Girls' School , the almost unprecedented sum of thirteen thousand pounds was subscribed by the Craft , of which no less than
a thousand pounds came from the Provinca of Es 3 es . But I may now come to matters which have happened to-day . In Lodgo I have ondeavoured feebly to express the thanks wo all feel wo owo to Lord Brooke , not only as a high official , but personally for coming amongst us . I can only repeat what I then said , that we are all extremely delighted at the manner in which his lordship performed the
ceremony . It was essentially able , and well done . On behalf of every member of the Lodge , and the Province generally , I am sure I can wish his lordship hearty good health . Lord Brooke , on rising , said he was overpowered with emotion at the cordial and hearty reception they had given their Provincial Grand Master on this occasion . Ho assured them he felt he had the
strongest and the deepest ties connecting him with tho County of Essex , and with his Masonic brethren of the Province . He could only feel that the kind words which had been uttered by their Master , were words which he felt he had hardly as yet earned , bnt which he hoped , in the course of time , he might earn to the very fullest extent . It was unfortunately impossible for him to bo amongst them so often as ho
Consecration Of St. Osyth's Priory Lodge, No. 2063.
could wish , but it had given him tho greatest possible pleasure to be sitting on the right of his worthy friond their Worshipful Master . ne wished him most sincorely many days of happy ollico . Ho might say that ho thought it was ono of tho principal merits of Free , masonry that after ho had been night after night in the House of Commons , where so many hard words wero said , ono came down to
tho peaco and harmony of a Masuu ' s Lodge , aud to one of these meetings , whero they dropped entirely political questions , but whore the ono great thought was that of emulation—tho inteuso wish to do good to our fellow-creatures in every possible way . Whilst these banquets were very enjoyable , thoy were not the primary objects of Freemasonry . Thoy had to look back upon a
great past , and if ho might speak of that lifeboat of which mentiou had been made , it was to such ceremonies that they had to look back upon . It was with great pleasnro he learnt that there was to be another ceremony of tho same nature iu the immediate neighbourhood in tho course of a few days ; ho greatly rogrettod that a previous engagement would prevent him being preaeut . I do , coucludod hia
Lordship , most earnestly ask you to pat up with my shortcomings , for I know they are many . Whonever it is possible for me to be present at your meetings , I will be with you , and I trust this will not bo the last time I may be at Clacton-on-Sea . The W . M . then gave the V . W . Deputy Provincial Grand Master for Essox , Bro . Fred . A . Philbrick , Q . C ., and tho Provincial Grand Officers Present and Past .
He could truly say that for the past six or seven years , since Bro . Philbrick was appointed Deputy P . G . M ., Masonry had received very great advantages at his hands . Bro . Philbrick was not only an old Mason , but he had taken great pains to perfect himself , and he had now reached a position which very few men could aspire to ; there was no doubt his knowledge of Masonry had influenced Grand Lodgo
in giving him one of the most important , appointments it was in the power of Masonry to confer—ho alluded to that of Grand Registrar of England . He had already alluded to the admirablo manner in which " Bro . Philbrick had performed the office with which ho had been entrusted that day , and every one he ( Sir John ) had spoken to since had endorsed his opinion , and had expressed the same
admiration for their V . W . Brother . V . W . Bro . Philbrick , who was received in a very hearty manner , returned thanks . He expressed the great pleasure he felt that the cause of Masonry was advancing , and that a new addition had been made to the roll of Lodges in the Province . Although the consecration of a new Lodge mig ht mean that some of the members would
not be so constant in their attendance at other Lodges , yet it formed a new point of attraction , and brought an element of strength to the Craft . It was , therefore , with peculiar pleasure they saw the St . Osyth ' s Priory Lodge inaugurated , because they felt that the ship they had just launched was a well-built ship . They hoped that no unpropitious gale would fill her sails , but if it did there wero
bravehearted mariners aboard her who knew how to handle their Craft . Brother Philbrick went on to speak of the great principles of brotherly lovo , relief , aud truth upon which Masonry is founded , aud which , through dark and evil times , as well as in prosperity , had had such power to Bind together man and man . Lord Brooko said tho next toast he had to propose was one which he was saro would be
received by all present with a great deal of enthusiasm ; aud although ho feared he could not do justice to it in eloquent terms , tho excellence of tho toast would bo a suffioiont apology . He alluded to tho health of their Worship ful Master . It was only a few minutes sinco that he was talking to his brother Sir John Johnson about his past Masonic career , and found that he was Master of a Lodgo in 1854 .
It was a great thing to think that a man liko Sir John Johnson had always had so much at heart the interests of Freemasonry ; and although for a timo he had abandoned his Masonio pursuits ho had now taken them up again with great fervour and facility , aud with the greatest pleasure to all those who listened to him ; further , with the assurance that he would bring success to St . Osyth ' s Priory
Lodge . It was a great pleaaure to him ( Lord Brooke ) to consecrate the Lodge to-day , and he hoped that its future might be as happy and prosperous as its commencement had been . The W . M . rose with tho consciousness that he was about to undertake the most difficult task that he had ever had to perform , viz . to return thanks , for the first time as Master of this Lodge , for tho kind way
in which his health had boon received . Aud in the first place he must offer his most sincere thanks to his noble friend and brother for the extremely flattering manner in which his Lordship had alluded to himself . This occasion recalled to his mind many sweet and bitter memories . His noble brother had already let them into the secret that he was a very old Mason . He was iuitiated as long ago
as 1850 , and he passed out of his first chair in 18 ol . He then for some few years was a member of the Shakespeare Lodge , aud had the honour of passing through several offices in that Lodge , and could boast the very high honour of having been its W . M . He left that chair something like 12 or 11 years ago , and had since then been relegated to the dignified but not very active life of a Past Master .
Then whon the moat overwhelming calamity of hia life came , two years ago—ho felt it was impossible for him any longer to remain in that Lodge , and moreover be thought that he could never bo induced to tako any part in Masonry again . However , when a deputation waited upon him and preferred the very flattering petition that a Lodgo might be established , to bo named the St . Osyth's Priory
Lodge—a name with which so many memories iu his lifo were associated—and that he should be the first Master of that Lodge , his resolution was broken clown aud ho consented to both requests . Having regard to the circumstance he had mentioned , he trusted the brethren would excuse his shortcomings in the performance of his duties , and believe that if he failed in the ability to do all the
Masonic work which fell to him he would at least be faithful to his Lodge . Sir John went on to say that tho manifold claims upon hia time and his advancing years , might render it impossible to bo with them always , but , the brethren might rely upon it that whenever it was possible he should be present at their meetings . He earnestly trusted , that the Lodgo which
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Consecration Of St. Osyth's Priory Lodge, No. 2063.
ourselves upon the proceedings of this day . The spread of true Masonry is the spread of light and blessing . We do hear of opinions to the contrary , but they are few , and are the result of ignorance . Our principles claim respect from all , for they are the principles of truth and virtue ; they are wise and good . And becanso they aro so , we who range under its banner , are thankful that Masonry , instead
of decreasing iu influence , is increasing in power and might . Its strong arm of support is waxing stronger every day ; its heart of pity finding increased exercise , and its true and beneficent sympathies spreading further and wider . And to us , who know and appreciate the exalted principles of our Order , it is especially gratifying that they are extending in our own Province . We are thankful that this
new Lodge i 3 being conseorated to-day , and heartily wish it Godspeed . May the principles of our Order be thoroughly and heartily maintained in it . May brotherly love , relief , and trnth ever prevail among its members ; and while we trust that they may never know for themselves the bitterness of sorrow , or feel the sharp arrows of adversity or misfortune , may they ever extend the hand of brotherly
love and pity towards all those brethren who aro feeling those adversities . And finally , brethren , maintaining those principles , each for himself , may we carry them out with confidence and perseverance until we are summoned from our labonrs below to higher service above , in that grand and heavenly Temple , where the Sublime Source of all Love , Virtue , and Truth—the World ' s Great
Architect—lives and reigns . At the conclusion of the ceremony the W . M . designate , Brother Sir John Henry Johnson , P . M . 99 , was impressively installed into his office by Brother Philbrick D . P . G . M ., and the following brethren were invested Officers for the year : —Bros . T . D . Hayes P . M . P . Z . 913 acting I . P . M ., W . J . Nunn P . M . 1592 Z . 1008 P . P . G . D . Suffolk
S . W ., C . R . Young P . M . 13 J . W ., John Mann P . M . 51 P . P . G . Sec . Essex Treasurer , Fred . J . Nunn 1799 Secretary , W . M . Foxoroft W . M . 177 S . D ., W . T . Hook J . D . 1642 J . D ., W . Cattermole 1663 I . G ., Finer J . W . 1799 and T . H . Baker 1333 Stewards , Henry Hart Tyler . Votes of thanks were passed to the R . W . P . G . M ., D . P . G . M ., and the other P . G . Officers for the part they had taken in the proceedings of the
day , and they were elected Honorary Members of the Lodge . Several brethren were proposed as joining members , and two or three candidates for initiation . The visitors present having offered their congratulations , the Lodge was closed . The brethren then adjourned to the Royal Hotel , where 109 sat down to bauqnet , elegantly served by the host , Bro . Wallis . The new Worshipful Masterpresided ; he
was supported by the R . W . P . G . M ., V . W . D . P . G . M . anda distingnshed array of Grand and Provincial Grand Officers . Grace was said by the Prov . Grand Chaplain , Brother the Rev . W . Morgan Jones ; and after dinner , " For these and all Thy Meroies , " was beautifully chanted by Bros . Osmond , Turner , Gowers , and Sparling . The W . M . gave the first toast—The Queen and the Craft . Sir
John said it was a great many years since he gave the toast of the Queen from the Chair of a Masonic Lodge , aud therefore it was with the greater pleasure he gave it now . He believed the Queen had no more loyal subjects in her kingdom than tho people of East Essex , and particularly the Freemasons of that district . In speaking to the toast of the M . W . the Grand Master of England , H . R . H . the Prince
of Wales , Sir John said he did nob think it had over been sufficiently appreciated what an enormous benefit it had been to Masonry that His Royal Highness should have accepted tho high position ho held in the Craft . The Prince of Wales had for them , however , a local interest , the lifeboat at Clacton-on-Sea , which had already done such excellent service , was one of two presented by the Freemasons of
•England as a thank-offering for the safe return of His Royal Highness from his tour in India . The Worshipful Master next proposed the Pro Grand Master the Earl of Carnarvon , tho Deputy Grand Master the Earl joi Lathom , and the Present and Past Officers of Grand Lodge , specially alluding to the fact that Lord Lathom had twice done signal service for Freemasonry in that neighbourhood , as his
Lordship had launched the lifeboat to which allusion had already been made ; he had also consecrated the " Arnold Lodge" in the neighbouring town of Walton . Bro . W . Clarke P . G . P . responded . The W . M . said he had now extreme satisfaction in proposing the health of the Right Worshipful the Provincial Grand Master of Essex , Lord Brooke . He was not at all surprised at the enthusiam with which the
brethren received the toast . Lord Brooke , ever since he was installed at Colchester by the Duke of Albany , had evinced the deepest interest in Freemasonry . It might be truly said that he had considerable influence in promoting the increase of Masony within thi 3 Province . I learn ( continued Sir John ) that this is the fourth Lodge that has been consecrated daring his term of Office , and in two of the cases
his lordship has personally performed the ceremony . There is no doubt , therefore , that since Lord Brooke was installed the Craft in Essex has steadily increased . It also shows the interest and influence Lord Brooke wields in Freemasonry that , at the recent Festival of the Girls' School , the almost unprecedented sum of thirteen thousand pounds was subscribed by the Craft , of which no less than
a thousand pounds came from the Provinca of Es 3 es . But I may now come to matters which have happened to-day . In Lodgo I have ondeavoured feebly to express the thanks wo all feel wo owo to Lord Brooke , not only as a high official , but personally for coming amongst us . I can only repeat what I then said , that we are all extremely delighted at the manner in which his lordship performed the
ceremony . It was essentially able , and well done . On behalf of every member of the Lodge , and the Province generally , I am sure I can wish his lordship hearty good health . Lord Brooke , on rising , said he was overpowered with emotion at the cordial and hearty reception they had given their Provincial Grand Master on this occasion . Ho assured them he felt he had the
strongest and the deepest ties connecting him with tho County of Essex , and with his Masonic brethren of the Province . He could only feel that the kind words which had been uttered by their Master , were words which he felt he had hardly as yet earned , bnt which he hoped , in the course of time , he might earn to the very fullest extent . It was unfortunately impossible for him to bo amongst them so often as ho
Consecration Of St. Osyth's Priory Lodge, No. 2063.
could wish , but it had given him tho greatest possible pleasure to be sitting on the right of his worthy friond their Worshipful Master . ne wished him most sincorely many days of happy ollico . Ho might say that ho thought it was ono of tho principal merits of Free , masonry that after ho had been night after night in the House of Commons , where so many hard words wero said , ono came down to
tho peaco and harmony of a Masuu ' s Lodge , aud to one of these meetings , whero they dropped entirely political questions , but whore the ono great thought was that of emulation—tho inteuso wish to do good to our fellow-creatures in every possible way . Whilst these banquets were very enjoyable , thoy were not the primary objects of Freemasonry . Thoy had to look back upon a
great past , and if ho might speak of that lifeboat of which mentiou had been made , it was to such ceremonies that they had to look back upon . It was with great pleasnro he learnt that there was to be another ceremony of tho same nature iu the immediate neighbourhood in tho course of a few days ; ho greatly rogrettod that a previous engagement would prevent him being preaeut . I do , coucludod hia
Lordship , most earnestly ask you to pat up with my shortcomings , for I know they are many . Whonever it is possible for me to be present at your meetings , I will be with you , and I trust this will not bo the last time I may be at Clacton-on-Sea . The W . M . then gave the V . W . Deputy Provincial Grand Master for Essox , Bro . Fred . A . Philbrick , Q . C ., and tho Provincial Grand Officers Present and Past .
He could truly say that for the past six or seven years , since Bro . Philbrick was appointed Deputy P . G . M ., Masonry had received very great advantages at his hands . Bro . Philbrick was not only an old Mason , but he had taken great pains to perfect himself , and he had now reached a position which very few men could aspire to ; there was no doubt his knowledge of Masonry had influenced Grand Lodgo
in giving him one of the most important , appointments it was in the power of Masonry to confer—ho alluded to that of Grand Registrar of England . He had already alluded to the admirablo manner in which " Bro . Philbrick had performed the office with which ho had been entrusted that day , and every one he ( Sir John ) had spoken to since had endorsed his opinion , and had expressed the same
admiration for their V . W . Brother . V . W . Bro . Philbrick , who was received in a very hearty manner , returned thanks . He expressed the great pleasure he felt that the cause of Masonry was advancing , and that a new addition had been made to the roll of Lodges in the Province . Although the consecration of a new Lodge mig ht mean that some of the members would
not be so constant in their attendance at other Lodges , yet it formed a new point of attraction , and brought an element of strength to the Craft . It was , therefore , with peculiar pleasure they saw the St . Osyth ' s Priory Lodge inaugurated , because they felt that the ship they had just launched was a well-built ship . They hoped that no unpropitious gale would fill her sails , but if it did there wero
bravehearted mariners aboard her who knew how to handle their Craft . Brother Philbrick went on to speak of the great principles of brotherly lovo , relief , aud truth upon which Masonry is founded , aud which , through dark and evil times , as well as in prosperity , had had such power to Bind together man and man . Lord Brooko said tho next toast he had to propose was one which he was saro would be
received by all present with a great deal of enthusiasm ; aud although ho feared he could not do justice to it in eloquent terms , tho excellence of tho toast would bo a suffioiont apology . He alluded to tho health of their Worship ful Master . It was only a few minutes sinco that he was talking to his brother Sir John Johnson about his past Masonic career , and found that he was Master of a Lodgo in 1854 .
It was a great thing to think that a man liko Sir John Johnson had always had so much at heart the interests of Freemasonry ; and although for a timo he had abandoned his Masonio pursuits ho had now taken them up again with great fervour and facility , aud with the greatest pleasure to all those who listened to him ; further , with the assurance that he would bring success to St . Osyth ' s Priory
Lodge . It was a great pleaaure to him ( Lord Brooke ) to consecrate the Lodge to-day , and he hoped that its future might be as happy and prosperous as its commencement had been . The W . M . rose with tho consciousness that he was about to undertake the most difficult task that he had ever had to perform , viz . to return thanks , for the first time as Master of this Lodge , for tho kind way
in which his health had boon received . Aud in the first place he must offer his most sincere thanks to his noble friend and brother for the extremely flattering manner in which his Lordship had alluded to himself . This occasion recalled to his mind many sweet and bitter memories . His noble brother had already let them into the secret that he was a very old Mason . He was iuitiated as long ago
as 1850 , and he passed out of his first chair in 18 ol . He then for some few years was a member of the Shakespeare Lodge , aud had the honour of passing through several offices in that Lodge , and could boast the very high honour of having been its W . M . He left that chair something like 12 or 11 years ago , and had since then been relegated to the dignified but not very active life of a Past Master .
Then whon the moat overwhelming calamity of hia life came , two years ago—ho felt it was impossible for him any longer to remain in that Lodge , and moreover be thought that he could never bo induced to tako any part in Masonry again . However , when a deputation waited upon him and preferred the very flattering petition that a Lodgo might be established , to bo named the St . Osyth's Priory
Lodge—a name with which so many memories iu his lifo were associated—and that he should be the first Master of that Lodge , his resolution was broken clown aud ho consented to both requests . Having regard to the circumstance he had mentioned , he trusted the brethren would excuse his shortcomings in the performance of his duties , and believe that if he failed in the ability to do all the
Masonic work which fell to him he would at least be faithful to his Lodge . Sir John went on to say that tho manifold claims upon hia time and his advancing years , might render it impossible to bo with them always , but , the brethren might rely upon it that whenever it was possible he should be present at their meetings . He earnestly trusted , that the Lodgo which