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a^^^^^^^a 23 GREAT QUEEN STREET , W . C .

Consecration Of The Wallington Lodge, No. 1892.

CONSECRATION OF THE WALLINGTON LODGE , No . 1892 .

THE village of Carshalton was all astir on Thursday last , the day fixed for tha above interesting ceremony . His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales Most Worshipful Grand Master of English Freemasons , —on the Petition of Bros . Charles Sawyer P . M . 1619 , John G . Horsey 186 P . M . 1619 , William Pile 1619 , Thomas Carder 1619 ,

J . W . Baldwin 1692 , . W . Russell Crowe P . M . 190 , W . Harwood 1619 , and E . Dickman 1619 , —had been graciously pleased to grant a Warrant , and , in due course , the V . W . Bro . the Rev . C . XV . Arnold , M . A ., Past Grand Chaplain of England , and Deputy Provincial Grand Master for Surrey , had been deputed to act as Consecrating aud Installing Officer . The Grand Officers and brethren of the Province

assembled in considerable strength at the Public Hall , Carshalton , a capacious building admirably adapted for the business of the day . Amongst those present to support the Deputy Prov . Grand Master were Bros . S . G . Kirohhoffer P . G . S . W ., George K . Saxon P . G . J . W ., Rev . F . J . Foakes-Jackson P . G . Chaplain , George Price P . G . Treasurer , Charles Greenwood G . S . B . P . G . Secretary , H . E . Frances P . G . D . of C ,

F . Buckland P . G . S . D ., Edwin D . Frost P . G . J . D ., Charles Greenwood jnn . P . G . Reg ., R . W . Price P . G . Supt . of Works , James Squire P . P . G . S . B ., G . C . Burry Past G . Organist , F . Frost and T . Vincent Prov . G . Stewards , R . Crowe 569 P . P . G . P . Essex ; also Bros . Edward Mitchell W . M . 720 , E . W . Whittaker S . D . 1790 , G . Lambert

1238 , W . T . Folks 507 , W . H . Hook P . M . 186 , G . W . Filmer 176 , W Golding 357 , J . Carder 1619 , F . Frost 463 , J , Hooke J . W . 463 , Thos Bartlett 1347 , J . C . Arlidge J . D . 1638 , J . W . Comb P . M . 548 , R

Davies 1673 , W . E . Williams P . M . 162 , Richard R . Davis Past Master 250 , H . Potter 1347 , Henry Potter Worshipfnl Master 1347 , Cyrus White 1790 , C . A . Blogg Org . 720 , and W . W . Morgan Sec . 211 . The brethren having assembled , a procession was formed . Bro . Arnold reqnested the Grand Wardens of the Province—Bros . Kirohhoffer and Saxon—to take their respective chairs . The Lodge was then formally opened to the third degree , and the D . G . M .

addressed the brethren . He forcibly impressed on them how requisite it was to be certain that those who might express a desire to join the Lodge possessed the requisite qualifications to make them acceptable members . Freemasonry , he said , was largely extending , and the time had arrived when General Brownrigg the Provincial Grand Master desired to see its further extension checked . He urged the brethren associated with the new Lodge to be especially mindful in their selection of candidates . The Charities of the Order were

large , but the demands on them were considerably on tho increase . Far too many have already joined the Order who have been inspired by unworthy motives , and it behoves us all to be ever on the alert to stop this . He then explained the nature of the business for which they were assembled . The Petition and Warrant were read by the Prov . G . Secretary , and the brethren having signified their

approval of the Officers therein named , a Lodge was formally coastitnted . The Consecrating Officer then called on the Prov . Grand Chaplain Bro . Foakes-Jackson , who delivered the following Oration on the Nature and Principle of Freemasonry : — The present ceremony is of great importance to every true lover of Masonry . Those who are members of older Lodges cannot fail to be

interested in the establishment of a new one . For every Lodge that ia added to the already large number now existing is a proof of the strength and vitality of Freemasonry . The presence of the Provincial Grand Lodge is a testimony to the interest felt by all Masons in proceedings like those of to-day . There can , in my opinion , be no system more calculated to maintain the bond of Masonic union throughout the country than tho present one , by which all Lodges in each Province

are united in the Provincial Grand Lodge and the Provincial Grand Lodges in the Grand Lodge of England . No Lodge is suffered to become isolated , and the interchange of sentiments of goodwill among Masons is encouraged . All the elder Lodges in this Province unite in good wishes for the prosperity of the Wallington Lodge , and sire that tbe Drfithren who have undertaken its formation may carry out the responsible duties they have taken upon themselves . * or yonr work , brethren , is not comnleted with tho labours nf r . n . < W

Un yon the prosperit y of the now Lod ge greatly depends . It is your art ° TatCh itS growth , to see that the true principles of Masonry life * ' therein > ancl that none are admitted save men who are onr , prove worfchy members of our Craft , ancl useful citizens of ur country . The subject to which I wish to invite yonr attention is tho _ L " ««| --i . « u .. 1 . 1-n _ ninu wj luyiits your u . ien . ion IS

tut c ™ racter of onr institution and the nature of its teachsome , are " -any popular errors about Freemasonry , for blani J ™ - mnab acknowled ge Masons are themselves to meet ' Tt •^ I intencl to mention is very easy for us to belon t ^t ^afc - ° 0 rcler > on account of the secrets which socior ' L- is in any way conDe ( -ted with the dangerous secret Jes vrhldh undermine the structure of European society .

J . W . 720 , W . Gunner S . W . 720 , W . Rudge J . W . 1690 , G . Mitchell Seo . 1619 , W . Wainwright P . M . 933 , George Holmes 1619 , E . A . Hand S . W . 1619 , Henry Gates 1790 , J . H . Hamilton W . M . 1506 , John S . Streeter S . W . 463 , Hugh Robertson 534 , W . P . Catterson 548 , E . J . S . Gillemand 720 , S . P . Catterson W . M . 548 , L . Mesronze P . M .

Consecration Of The Wallington Lodge, No. 1892.

Wo need not go far to disprove this statement . One of our leading principles is that we are not a political society , and are pledged not to offend against the laws of the country in which we live . In the times of the outburst of revolutionary sentiments in England at the close of tho last century , when secret societies were forbidden by law , Masonry was especially excepted . Whatever the private political

views of any good Mason may be , wo may be sure he would look with abhorrence on a crime like that perpetrated this week . No end conld , in a Mason's eye , justify tho dastardly murder of a Sovereign , who whatever wo may think of his lifo , proclaimed by the liberation of millions of serfs , the grand Masonic doctrine of the natural equality of man . Masonry is tho exponent of no particular political doctrine ;

men nf every opinion may range under her banners , provided they are sincere , upright , and just moo , ready to convert others to their views by sonnd argnment and proofs of their truth , but not by violence or crime . The next objection is that Masonry is opposed to revealed religion . I have heard it stated that no man can be both a Mason and a Christian . The reason given is that a mere code of

morality must be by its nature antagonistic to a religion based on revelation . But a knowledge of the true character of our teaching wonld prove the fallacy of such an argument . The faot is , Masonry , though never touching on controverted points , leaves us almost on the threshold of revealed religion . No man can be a true Mason who is not earnestly seeking after truth . Who does not believe in

the existence of a personal God . Who does not acknowledge that there is something in man which will endure beyond the grave . We go further , and in one of the noblest of all our ceremonies profess a belief in a system of future rewards and punishments , and point to a gleam of hope shining even amid the dark clouds of death . And the lofty purity of our morality makes

every true Mason feel that he must look for aid from some one stronger than himself . The prayers we are about to offer to the Creator of All dnring the course of this ceremony bear witness to this , and the right duties of every Mason will be rehearsed in the installation of the Worshipfnl Master . Every step of a Mason ' s career teaches him to Worship the Most High . The helplessness of

his entrance into Masonry is a symbolical illustration of his own weakness . The source whence he is told all wisdom proceeds makes him look to the Most High . And at last , when in the darkness of death he stands at tho brink of the grave , he learns to say , in the confidence of the royal Hebrew poet , " Yea , though I walk through the valley of death , I will fear no evil , for Thou art with me . " Yes ,

the Mason who has acknowleged God as the source of strength , of knowledge , and of life , is not , likely to despise the revelations he has given to ns his creatures . The third objection is one with which I regret to say we must reproach ourselves . It is that Masonry is a mere frivolous Society , that its principal feature is eating and drinking ; that Masons assemble merely for social purposes . Far be

it from me to condemn entirely the festive gatherings which often follow Masonic work . I owe too many good friends to such meetings . But I am sure all will agree in discountenancing Lodges who meet onl y for tbe banquet , and neglect Masonic work . There is no sight m ore disheartening to a Mason than a half-empty Lodge ; Master , Wardens , and Brethren hurrying over their work in a

slovenly manner , and then all hastening to a dinner ; perhaps disgracing the Order still more by a scene of riot and debauchery . There is nothing more injurious to Freemasonry than such Lodges ; nothing more certain to bring our noble Craft into discredit . Yon , brethren , I feel confident are in no danger of thus noting . Yonr purpose , I may safely say , is

to work honestly nt Masonry , and to bring the Craft into hononr in this neighbourhood . Let me ask you to remember what great and solemn doctrines Masonry inculcates—what a lofty morality she teaches . There are many who , upon first becoming Masons , feel disappointed afc the apparently simple character of our secrets ; bnt can any older Mason deny that every time he heard

a Masonio ceremony well performed , he gained some new insight into the teaching of the Craft ? The responsibilities , too , of a conscien . tious Mason are very great—the great problems which are presented to him suggest the importance of a well-spent life . He is bound to live as one who must one day give an acconnt before his Creator j and not only mnst he do this , he must live for others too . In his

prayers he must remember the wants of others ; in his work he must find time to help the weak ; in his pleasure he must deny himself to comfort the sorrowful . Such a life musb you demand of all who become members of your Lodge . It is the duty of those in authority to strive to make those under them an honour to the Craft , and a blessing to mankind . This must be yonr high object if yon wish the

Wallington Lodge to fulfil its purpose . In all things may God be with you to guide and keep yon in all His ways . This address was delivered by tho Prov . G . Chaplain with great eloquence , and was listened to by all present most attentively . The ceremony was then completed with the customary formalities , and then Bro . Charles Sawyer , the W . Master designate , was introduced

and installed as the first W . Master of the Wallington Lodge . After tho customary salutations , the following Officers were invested : — Bros . Horsey S . W ., XV . M . Pile J . W ., W . Russell Crowe P . M . Treas ., E . Dickman S . D ., J . XV . Baldwin J . D ., Thos . Carder I . G . The pleasing duty of proposing that the Prov . Grand Master , the Deputy Prov . G . M ., and Prov . Grand Treasurer and Secretary be elected honorary

members of the Lodge now devolved on the W . M . This was cordially seconded by tho S . W ., and unanimously agreed to . Propositions for initiation and joining were handed in ; a proposal to establish aLodge of Instruction in association with the new Lodge was discussed and agreed to ; and hearty good wishes having been tendered , Lodge was closed . The customary banquet , without which ceremonies of this kind must

be considered incomplete , was given at the King's Arms , Carshalton , and the catering of the host , Mr . George Jackson , is much to be commended . On removal of tv-e cloth a very full toast list was gone through . The Nationa' Anthem and God Bless the Prince of Wales being ! sung ' after the Loyal toasts . For the Pro G . M ., the D . G . M ., and the rest of the Grand Officers Bro . Arnold replied . Ifc was an