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Consecration Of The Portsmouth, Temperance Lodge, No. 2068.

CONSECRATION OF THE PORTSMOUTH , TEMPERANCE LODGE , No . 2068 .

ON Monday afternoon tho It . W . Provincial Grand Master of Hamp . shire and the Isle of Wight ( Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P . ) , accompanied by Bro . Lo Fenvro Deputy Provincial Grand Master , and a nnmber of tho Grand Officers of tho Province , attended at tho Soldiers'Institute , Portsmouth , for the purpose of consecrating tho

ahovo Lodge , which , as its name implies , has been established on temperance principles , as only non-alcoholic beverages will bo served at its banquets , although non-abstainers are eligible for membership . Thero was a large muster in the Lod ^ e-room at 4 . 30 when the Prov .

Grand Master took the chair , and after tho cnstomary preliminaries had been gone through , the Depnty Provincial Grand Blaster made a few remarks on tho circumstances nnder which the Lodgo was formed , after which the Provincial Grand Master addressed the brethren .

In somo cases they might doubt whether if new Lodges sprang into existence they would bo adequately and properly supported . But in this largo and important neighbourhood , embracing as it did such a largo population , he saw no reason for believing that when a new Lodgo was applied for , thoso taking that conrse were not actuated by

a sincere desire to promote the interests of Freemasonry . He felt quite certain that no brethren would ever think of applying for a new Lodgo unless they desired to ensure its success . lie had no reason to complain on this score , for ho had seen new Lodges spring into existence , and he had always found that brethren who had

started them had been fully impressed with tho weight and responsibility of what they had undertaken . Therefore he was quite certain that in this case he was not misinterpreting tho feelings of thoso who had applied for the warrant and offered to hold office nnder it when ho said that they were animated by the desiro to secure the

permanence , stability , and snecess of tho Lodge . He wished them well , and that their success might be in accordance with what was anticipated . To propagate Freemasonry in the present day was no light work , ancl they mnst all feel that iu the belonging to such a large and important Order , which extended its branches over every

part of the civilised world , they had a heavy responsibility cast upon them . Every individual Mason ought to show that he had something to do for the welfare of the Order to which he belonged , that ho had to show that he was a worthy member of it , and that if by his means something might be done to increase the repute , the

permanence , stability , and tho welfare of the Order , ho might feel certain that he had done some good . He ought to feel that if tho outer world pointed to Freemasonry and Freemasons as a body of men who

were doing no good in tho world , he was ablo to refute it , so far as he could , by his own conduct , and by showing that the lessons of Freemasonry had a powerful influence in shaping it , and turning him towards cood and not towards evil . Let them feci that

whatever might be said about their Order they could not havo tho finger of scorn pointed at them , cr have it said that they wero doing that which was wrong . Let ; them be animated by feelings like that , and they would do tho very best thoy could to vindicate tho fame of the Order to which they belonged ,

and of which they ought to be proud . He trusted that in that Lodge tho principles which wero instilled would have a powerful effect npon many who were initiated within its walls , and that the Lodge would be the means of propagating the tenets of Freemasonry , and doing good to many who wero admitted within its precincts . He

trusted that the Lodge might flourish , and that when they met again on any anniversary or other occasion tbey would be able to congratulate themselves upon the success which had attended the efforts of the promoters and those who might become members . Subsequently the Provincial Grand Chaplain ( the llev . Dr . Mullins , Chaplain to

H . M . 's Forces , Aldershot ) delivered an address . Tho constitution of the Portsmouth Temperance Lodge was a marked event in the annals of the Province , for although there wero Temperance Lodges in other provinces , this was the first in Hants , and it was fitting that Portsmonth should tako the lead . The name of the Lodge cast no

reflection on other Lodges , for he was snre that nothing was further from the founder ' s wish than to claim a higher status of culture and utility than their fellows . Every Masonic Lodge that remained faithful to the principles of the Craft must , in the strict sense of the word , bo a Temperance Lodgo , and every Freemason who was true to the

principles of the Craft must bo a . wan who led a sober , righteous , and he wonld add a godly life . Temperance was one of the cardinal virtues , and as such was held in high esteem . Tho keystone of English Freemasonry was a belief in the existence of a personal , individual God , who had created all men , and consequently in His

sight all were brethren , so that Freemasonry conld bo carried ou upon an equal footing , and in a Masonic Lodgo there conld be no distinction , bnt all men were equal . Yet it was a fact that class Lodges existed for tho convenience of tie members . There were Lodges for the Army and Navy , for Barrister ? , for paoplo engaged

iii the theatrical profession , for members of the Universities— -the Sir Isaac Newton at Cambridge and tho Apollo at Oxford . Therefore no apology was necessary for the constitution of a

Lodge iu which the brethren were united by a common opinion as to what thoy should not drink . It could uot bo denied that of late years a great movement had been taking placo iu this country , and thero wero about live millions of total ubutaineru ,

Consecration Of The Portsmouth, Temperance Lodge, No. 2068.

amongst whom , no doubt , wero a largo nnmber of Masons , for whomever they saw any great and philanthropic movement there they found Masons to tlie front . Therefore , it was only fair that here and there a Lodge should bo constituted for their convenience . This was an ago of searching inquiry and of intellectual activity , whou most

of their old institutions wero on their trial . That being the case Masonry conld not expect to escape the spirit of tho ago . But when they found Freemasonry come forth , and that from its inherent principles it was prepared to tako part in tho onward march of civilisation , that was tho surest sign of its vitality and strength . There was no

denying tho fact that a great social reform had been progressing of late years . Tho temperance movement waa one of the most remarkable of tho age . It had moro or less influenced all classes in society . Social reformers told them ou indisputable grounds that in the future habits of lomporance would elevate and improve the

condition of the people . He was not there to deliver a lecture , but ho regarded it as an indication of the power and vital energy of Masonry that it extended its sympathy to this movement , and acconfcnatcd its approval of this great social reform , as it did thafc day . Freemasonry had taken a glorious part in the great

educational movement , and their Schools stood forth as a memorial of Masonio bencvoLmce . For thoir great Institutions the large sum of £ 43 , 883 was received in 1884 , besides between nine aud ten thousand pounds voted by the Lodgo of Benevolence to indigent Masons of all nationalities . One of the wisest things that had been

done hy the Provincial Grand Lodge was to formulate a scheme for the education of their local orphans . Ho thought the Grand Lodge of England had acted wisely in permitting tho foundation of Temperance Lodges . One of the truest maxims to be found in George Eliot ' s works was— " Those whom wo trust we educate , "

and he had no doubt that their total abstaining brethren would repay the confidence of the Grand Lodge ' , and in a tangible way show the stability of their principles , by constituting the new Lodge a Life Governor of tho Masonic Charities . At the conclusion of the ceremony tho Prov . Grand Master installed Captain T . Ward , R . A .,

P . M ., as first Worshipful Master of the Lodge , amid the applause of tho brethren , expressing his belief that he would fully justify the choice , and that his past experience would bo brought to bear for the good of the Lodge . Some of the Officers were invested , the complete list being as follows : —Bros . A . L . Emanuel , Past

Master , Immediate Past Master , J . Palmer Senior Warden , G . Heading J . W ., G . F . Bevis Treasurer , J . B . Pither P . M . Sec , P . H . Emannel S . D ., W . G . Robinson J . D ., Q . Cecconi I . G ., W . Robinson D . C , G . Sylvester Org ., C . G . Adams P . M . Steward , W . Miller Steward . Several propositions for initiation and joining were

submitted , ancl tho P . G . M ., D . P . G . M ., and Sir Georgo Willis wore elected honorary members of the Lodge . At the banquet , which waa served in the Officers' House , the "W . M . presided , snpported by the P . G . M . and the D . P . G . M . At the conclusion of an excellent repast , with which non-intoxicants wero served , a congratulatory telegram

was read from the W . M . of the Wolseley ( temperance ) Locige , Manchester . After tho preliminary Masonic toasts had been given from the chair Bro . Captain Haldane , in proposing the health of the Provincial Grand Master , said they all knew how excellent a . Mason he was , and what pains he took to make the Craft work well under

his banner . The P . G . M ., in reply , said he might congratulate them , and the world at large , upon the fact that while in the present day thero wore many who assailed Royalty , religion , and every rooted institution , a large body of men were banded together for the purpose of brotherhood , whose creed was reverence to religion and loyalty to

their sovereign . Bro . C . G . Adamos proposed the D . P . G . M . and Officers of P . G . Lr . dge , and Bros . Le Feuvre and E . Goble , the recently appointed Prov . G . Secretary , responded . Tho P . G . M ., in eulogistic terms , gavo the W . M ., who made a suitable reply . Other toasts followed , and with the aid of harmony a pleasant evening was spent . Bro . Sylvester presided at the piano . —Portsmouth Times .

At tlie Convocation of the North London Chapter of Improvement held at the Alwyne Castle Tavern , St . Panl ' s-road , on Thursday , Companions G . Gregory

acted as M . E . Z , W . Radcliffe IL , Knight J ., Sheffield S . N ., Collinson P . S ., T . 0 . Edmonds Preceptor . The respective Officers performed their work in an admirable manner .

Bro . James Stevens has accepted the invitation of the Wallington Lodge of Instruction , No . 1892 , to deliver his Lecture on the Ritual and Ceremonial of the First Degree , at the Festival meeting , to bo held at the Public Hall , Carshaltou , Surrey , on Thursday next , 26 th inst ., at 6 p . m . A large gathering of brethren is expected on this occasion .

The following Dinners were hold at the Freemasons ' Tavern during the week ending 21 st February : — Monday—Graud Master ' s Lodge , British Lodge , Warre Presentation . Tuesday—Mr . Solomon ' s Wedding , Cadogan Lodge , Enoch

Chapter , Salisbury Lodge , Industry Chapter . Wednesday—Buckingham arid Ghandos Lodge , Novio Magians , Oak Lodge . Thursday — Universal Lodge , St . Mary ' j Lodge , Great Northern Lodge , United Pilgrims Chapter , Globo Lodge . Friday—Jordan Lodge .