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Article CONSECRATION: EMPRESS LODGE. ← Page 2 of 2 Article THE WEYMOUTH MASONIC CHAIR. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Consecration: Empress Lodge.
thank you also for the enthusiastic manner in which you have received those eloquent words . But I am not unconscious that this toast really means Success to the Empress Lodge , and I think it is but due that I should say a few words as to what has been in the minds of the Founders with regard to the
establishment of this Empress Lodge . Doubtless all of us remember the story of the mother of the Gracchi , who , when asked by her friends to show them her jewels , took them to her nursery and displayed her children . Surely if England was asked the cause of her greatness and of her unique position she would point with
pride over the ocean waves to her Indian Empire and her colonies which belt the world , in whom she lives , in whom she flourishes , in whom she triumphs . If we look to the east , that region to which we owe so much , the beginning of all learning both human and divine , there we find an empire containing 300 millions , and
among that population some of the most astute and learned of mankind , but we find that astute and learned population , with all its learning and all its greatness , are proud to be under the rule of our Empress Queen . If , on the other hand , we turn to the west we cannot but see with pride and with pleasure the
vitality and the vigour of the younger branches of the British oak . There we see new nations being reared , there we see new empires being formed , all under the same constitutional
government which has made England herself great . If we go on year by year we see our family thus progressing ; we see , and we are thankful to see , civilisation and religion being extended in all portions of the
globe" Regious Csesar never knew , Our posterity shall sway , Where his eagles never flew , None invincible as they . " Those were the feelings which animated the Founders of the
Empress Lodge ; they felt that there was an opportunity given to them to extend the blessings and the advantages which we as Masons know and prize and deeply value ; it was to establish a Lodge here in which those who come from the domains of our Empress Queen would find a rallying point , and whether they
come permanently or occasionally to that haven of rest we wish Masonry to our Brethren . We members of the Empress Lodge have to thank you Visitors for coming amongst us to-night , and giving us your approval and approbation . Our desire is—and we hope we shall be able to carry out at least an effort—peace ,
justice , and righteousness to a portion of our fellow mankind , and thus I look with confidence and hope to the Empress Lodge in the future , young though it is at present , developing and extending and adding lustre and greatness to Freemasonry which we all have at heart , and know how to prize . Brethren , I thank
you on behalf of the Lodge ; I thank you on my own behalf ; and I feel that you possess with us sympathy and co-operation in wishing us God speed in the future . Other toasts followed , the proceedings not concluding until a very late hour .
Among those present , in addition to those already mentioned , were the following Brethren : Boss Eobertson P . G . M . Canada , W . Mason Stiles G . Treas ., Eichard Eve P . G . Treas ., George Everett P . G . Treas ., Eobert Grey President Board of Benevolence , J . C . Parkinson P . G . D ., Dr . Ealph Gooding P . G . D ., G . P .
Goldney P . G . D ., Sir Somers Vine P . G . D ., Major-General J . C . Hay , J . Lewis Thomas P . G . D . C , James Terry P . G . S . B ., C . Belton P . G . D . C , Dr . Lennox Browne P . G . D . C , E . Turtle Piggott P . G . D . C , E . G . Clowes P . G . S . B ., J . H . Matthews P . G . D . C , CbarlesMartinP . G . D . C , J . M . McLeod P . Prov . G . S . W .
Derby , W . J . W . Beard P . M . 201 , J . D . Langton Prov . G . J . W . Surrey , T . P . Griffin W . M . No . 1 , T . Catling P . M . 2127 , 0 . A . Walter P . M ., Henry Massey P . M . 1928 , Orlton Cooper P . M . 211 , H . S . Wellcome P . M ., H . G . Cubitt P . M . 2020 , P . L . Simmonds P . M ., J . W . Woodthorpe P . M . 1679 , E . Eosenthal W . M . 2190 , Arthur Tite , G . E . Blades , C F . Monckton , J . E . Somers Vine ,
W . B . Fendick P . M ., T . B . White P . M ., C . E . Daniel P . M ., W . J Ebbetts P . M ., N . Fortescue P . M ., & c .
The Queen has been pleased to approve the appointment oi Lord Henniker Prov . G . M . Suffolk to be Lieutenant-Governor of the Isle of Man , in succession to Sir . T . West Eidgeway , whose resi gnation takes effect on 24 th January next . This is the first
occasion on which a peer of the realm has been appointed to the Manx Governorship . The Manx Brethren have dispatched telegrams of welcome and congratulations on behalf of tbe Provincial Grand Lodge and other Lodges to Lord Henniker on his appointment .
An additional honour has been conferred on Bro . John Lane P-P . G . E . P . A . G . D . C England , in the fact of his having been elected an honorary member of the Masonic Veterans Association of Illinois , U . S . A ., in recognition of his literary services to freemasonry . — " Western Mercurv . "
The Weymouth Masonic Chair.
THE WEYMOUTH MASONIC CHAIR .
ON Monday , 7 th inst ., the Mayor ( Mr . T . H . Williams ) , accompanied by Sir E . N . Howard ( Town Clerk ) , attended in semi-civic state at the All Souls Lodge , No . 170 , for the purpose of formally handing over to the Lodge the ancient Masonic chair which has for many years been in custody of the municipal authority , and to which reference was recently made in our columns .
Some difficulty presented itself in regard to the ceremony , owing to the fact that the Mayor is not a member of the Craft , but carefully following the precedent set a few years ago , when the Baroness Burdett Coutts made a presentation to one of the London Lodges , the authorities were able to invite the Mayor to
the Lodge in person , and to arrange a ceremony of a very interesting character . The Mayor arrived shortly after seven o ' clock , and entered the Lodge wearing his chain of office , and accompanied by Sir E . N . Howard , who , though a leading member of the Craft and a Past Officer of the Grand Lodge of England , attended as a " stranger . "
The Mayor and Town Clerk were conducted to the dais , and the Worshipful Master offered in eloquent terms a cordial welcome . He said he was placed in a position of peculiar honour , as for the first time in the history of that Lodge he was called upon to receive on behalf of the members the civic powers
of the borough . It was the first time they had been able to salute a Mayor of the town who was not a Mason . There was a long list of honourable men who had been Brothers of that Lodge and who had also filled the civic chair ; and it might interest his Worship to know that Masonry appeared to agree
well with the Mayors of the town who had been members of the Craft , because he found that during the last ninety-five years there had been forty-six Mayors , and of these twenty-one had been Masons . The twenty-one Masonic Mayors had reigned over fifty years , and the twenty-five who had been non-Masons for
forty-five , so that those Mayors who wished to have long life in the civic chair ought to become Masons . They had a remarkable instance of this in regard to their distinguished Brother Sir E . N . Howard , who had attained very high rank and was a most distinguished " Mason , and who had filled the Mayoral
chair for seven years , which was , he believed , the longest time since the establishment of the office . He thought these were reasonable inducements to those who occupied the post of chief magistrate of that ancient borough to become members of their honourable society . No matter what the outside world might
say or think , it was a society connection which would adorn any office ; for their great motto was " Brotherly love , relief , and truth , " and those principles they strove as good Masons to carry out . They were the guiding principles laid down in the volume of the Sacred Law which lay open before them , and they
endeavoured to discharge their duties in the manner they should do . They had much pleasure in welcoming the Mayor of the borough to their assembly , because , though not a Mason himself , he was the father of a Mason of whom they were proud , and for whom they looked forward to a high career in the Craft .
He need hardly say that they were all proud of their connection with All Souls Lodge , which had a direct record of work for over a century . Their minutes dated directly from the year 1767 , and they had little doubt that the Lodge was working many years previously ; but unfortunately in olden days the records of
Masonic Lodges , as of many other institutions , were not kept so perfectly as they were now , consequently they could only rely upon the record since 1767 . They stood according to their direct records second in the province of Dorset , but broadly
speaking they could justly claim to be one of the most ancient Lodges , not only in Dorset , but in the country . In conclusion the Worshipful Master thanked the Mayor very much for his presence among the Brethren , who welcomed him with enthusiasm .
The Mayor said : as Mayor of that ancient borough it gave him extreme pleasure to be present that evening , as he had been the means , to some extent , of restoring one of their ancient Masonic chairs to its proper custody . Soon after his election as Mayor he was passing up the steps of the Town Hall with his
brother , and , looking at the ancient chair , which was then in a rather dilapidated state , his Brother said what a pity it was that so fine a chair should be allowed to go to ruin . Accordingly it was carefully restored , and an application having been made by that Lodge that it should be handed back he was delighted to
attend that night for the purpose of returning it to its rightful owners . He hoped the chair would remain with them for generations to come , and that many wiseheads would have the honour of sitting in it . His Worship mentioned that though not a Freemason himself he had two sons who were members of the
Craft , and a third would be made a Mason that week in London . He was , therefore , in a sense connected with them , and he was proud of it . He mentioned that as a memento of the occasion he had caused a silver plate to be placed on the chair stating the circumstances of its restoration .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Consecration: Empress Lodge.
thank you also for the enthusiastic manner in which you have received those eloquent words . But I am not unconscious that this toast really means Success to the Empress Lodge , and I think it is but due that I should say a few words as to what has been in the minds of the Founders with regard to the
establishment of this Empress Lodge . Doubtless all of us remember the story of the mother of the Gracchi , who , when asked by her friends to show them her jewels , took them to her nursery and displayed her children . Surely if England was asked the cause of her greatness and of her unique position she would point with
pride over the ocean waves to her Indian Empire and her colonies which belt the world , in whom she lives , in whom she flourishes , in whom she triumphs . If we look to the east , that region to which we owe so much , the beginning of all learning both human and divine , there we find an empire containing 300 millions , and
among that population some of the most astute and learned of mankind , but we find that astute and learned population , with all its learning and all its greatness , are proud to be under the rule of our Empress Queen . If , on the other hand , we turn to the west we cannot but see with pride and with pleasure the
vitality and the vigour of the younger branches of the British oak . There we see new nations being reared , there we see new empires being formed , all under the same constitutional
government which has made England herself great . If we go on year by year we see our family thus progressing ; we see , and we are thankful to see , civilisation and religion being extended in all portions of the
globe" Regious Csesar never knew , Our posterity shall sway , Where his eagles never flew , None invincible as they . " Those were the feelings which animated the Founders of the
Empress Lodge ; they felt that there was an opportunity given to them to extend the blessings and the advantages which we as Masons know and prize and deeply value ; it was to establish a Lodge here in which those who come from the domains of our Empress Queen would find a rallying point , and whether they
come permanently or occasionally to that haven of rest we wish Masonry to our Brethren . We members of the Empress Lodge have to thank you Visitors for coming amongst us to-night , and giving us your approval and approbation . Our desire is—and we hope we shall be able to carry out at least an effort—peace ,
justice , and righteousness to a portion of our fellow mankind , and thus I look with confidence and hope to the Empress Lodge in the future , young though it is at present , developing and extending and adding lustre and greatness to Freemasonry which we all have at heart , and know how to prize . Brethren , I thank
you on behalf of the Lodge ; I thank you on my own behalf ; and I feel that you possess with us sympathy and co-operation in wishing us God speed in the future . Other toasts followed , the proceedings not concluding until a very late hour .
Among those present , in addition to those already mentioned , were the following Brethren : Boss Eobertson P . G . M . Canada , W . Mason Stiles G . Treas ., Eichard Eve P . G . Treas ., George Everett P . G . Treas ., Eobert Grey President Board of Benevolence , J . C . Parkinson P . G . D ., Dr . Ealph Gooding P . G . D ., G . P .
Goldney P . G . D ., Sir Somers Vine P . G . D ., Major-General J . C . Hay , J . Lewis Thomas P . G . D . C , James Terry P . G . S . B ., C . Belton P . G . D . C , Dr . Lennox Browne P . G . D . C , E . Turtle Piggott P . G . D . C , E . G . Clowes P . G . S . B ., J . H . Matthews P . G . D . C , CbarlesMartinP . G . D . C , J . M . McLeod P . Prov . G . S . W .
Derby , W . J . W . Beard P . M . 201 , J . D . Langton Prov . G . J . W . Surrey , T . P . Griffin W . M . No . 1 , T . Catling P . M . 2127 , 0 . A . Walter P . M ., Henry Massey P . M . 1928 , Orlton Cooper P . M . 211 , H . S . Wellcome P . M ., H . G . Cubitt P . M . 2020 , P . L . Simmonds P . M ., J . W . Woodthorpe P . M . 1679 , E . Eosenthal W . M . 2190 , Arthur Tite , G . E . Blades , C F . Monckton , J . E . Somers Vine ,
W . B . Fendick P . M ., T . B . White P . M ., C . E . Daniel P . M ., W . J Ebbetts P . M ., N . Fortescue P . M ., & c .
The Queen has been pleased to approve the appointment oi Lord Henniker Prov . G . M . Suffolk to be Lieutenant-Governor of the Isle of Man , in succession to Sir . T . West Eidgeway , whose resi gnation takes effect on 24 th January next . This is the first
occasion on which a peer of the realm has been appointed to the Manx Governorship . The Manx Brethren have dispatched telegrams of welcome and congratulations on behalf of tbe Provincial Grand Lodge and other Lodges to Lord Henniker on his appointment .
An additional honour has been conferred on Bro . John Lane P-P . G . E . P . A . G . D . C England , in the fact of his having been elected an honorary member of the Masonic Veterans Association of Illinois , U . S . A ., in recognition of his literary services to freemasonry . — " Western Mercurv . "
The Weymouth Masonic Chair.
THE WEYMOUTH MASONIC CHAIR .
ON Monday , 7 th inst ., the Mayor ( Mr . T . H . Williams ) , accompanied by Sir E . N . Howard ( Town Clerk ) , attended in semi-civic state at the All Souls Lodge , No . 170 , for the purpose of formally handing over to the Lodge the ancient Masonic chair which has for many years been in custody of the municipal authority , and to which reference was recently made in our columns .
Some difficulty presented itself in regard to the ceremony , owing to the fact that the Mayor is not a member of the Craft , but carefully following the precedent set a few years ago , when the Baroness Burdett Coutts made a presentation to one of the London Lodges , the authorities were able to invite the Mayor to
the Lodge in person , and to arrange a ceremony of a very interesting character . The Mayor arrived shortly after seven o ' clock , and entered the Lodge wearing his chain of office , and accompanied by Sir E . N . Howard , who , though a leading member of the Craft and a Past Officer of the Grand Lodge of England , attended as a " stranger . "
The Mayor and Town Clerk were conducted to the dais , and the Worshipful Master offered in eloquent terms a cordial welcome . He said he was placed in a position of peculiar honour , as for the first time in the history of that Lodge he was called upon to receive on behalf of the members the civic powers
of the borough . It was the first time they had been able to salute a Mayor of the town who was not a Mason . There was a long list of honourable men who had been Brothers of that Lodge and who had also filled the civic chair ; and it might interest his Worship to know that Masonry appeared to agree
well with the Mayors of the town who had been members of the Craft , because he found that during the last ninety-five years there had been forty-six Mayors , and of these twenty-one had been Masons . The twenty-one Masonic Mayors had reigned over fifty years , and the twenty-five who had been non-Masons for
forty-five , so that those Mayors who wished to have long life in the civic chair ought to become Masons . They had a remarkable instance of this in regard to their distinguished Brother Sir E . N . Howard , who had attained very high rank and was a most distinguished " Mason , and who had filled the Mayoral
chair for seven years , which was , he believed , the longest time since the establishment of the office . He thought these were reasonable inducements to those who occupied the post of chief magistrate of that ancient borough to become members of their honourable society . No matter what the outside world might
say or think , it was a society connection which would adorn any office ; for their great motto was " Brotherly love , relief , and truth , " and those principles they strove as good Masons to carry out . They were the guiding principles laid down in the volume of the Sacred Law which lay open before them , and they
endeavoured to discharge their duties in the manner they should do . They had much pleasure in welcoming the Mayor of the borough to their assembly , because , though not a Mason himself , he was the father of a Mason of whom they were proud , and for whom they looked forward to a high career in the Craft .
He need hardly say that they were all proud of their connection with All Souls Lodge , which had a direct record of work for over a century . Their minutes dated directly from the year 1767 , and they had little doubt that the Lodge was working many years previously ; but unfortunately in olden days the records of
Masonic Lodges , as of many other institutions , were not kept so perfectly as they were now , consequently they could only rely upon the record since 1767 . They stood according to their direct records second in the province of Dorset , but broadly
speaking they could justly claim to be one of the most ancient Lodges , not only in Dorset , but in the country . In conclusion the Worshipful Master thanked the Mayor very much for his presence among the Brethren , who welcomed him with enthusiasm .
The Mayor said : as Mayor of that ancient borough it gave him extreme pleasure to be present that evening , as he had been the means , to some extent , of restoring one of their ancient Masonic chairs to its proper custody . Soon after his election as Mayor he was passing up the steps of the Town Hall with his
brother , and , looking at the ancient chair , which was then in a rather dilapidated state , his Brother said what a pity it was that so fine a chair should be allowed to go to ruin . Accordingly it was carefully restored , and an application having been made by that Lodge that it should be handed back he was delighted to
attend that night for the purpose of returning it to its rightful owners . He hoped the chair would remain with them for generations to come , and that many wiseheads would have the honour of sitting in it . His Worship mentioned that though not a Freemason himself he had two sons who were members of the
Craft , and a third would be made a Mason that week in London . He was , therefore , in a sense connected with them , and he was proud of it . He mentioned that as a memento of the occasion he had caused a silver plate to be placed on the chair stating the circumstances of its restoration .