New Temple At Kelvedon.

future to practise the beautiful ceremonies of the Order in a temple specially devoted to the purpose . He felt that they all owed a deep debt of gratitude to Bro . Sir William Abdy for his kindness in providing this magnificent building for the uses of Freemasonry . He was also aware that much time ancl trouble

had been bestowed upon this building by Bro . Salter , for which they could not thank him too much ; and he congratulated the Architect ( Bro . Whitmore ) on the taste he had displayed in designing the Hall , and the builder ( Bro . Thorn ) on the faithfulness with which he had carried out the work . It was a pleasure

to him to see the way in which Masonry flourished in his Province . Only the other day a Provincial Grand Master congratulated him upon the success of Masonry in Essex ; this he felt was due not so much to himself as to the loyal manner in which the Lodges upheld the great principles of the Institution .

Prayer having been said by the Provincial Grand Chaplain the Architect presented to his lordship the plans of the Hall , and the Provincial Grand Secretary the deed of conveyance . The Provincial Grand Chaplain Bro . the Eev . W . Linton Wilson then delivered an address . He said :

We are assembled to-day upon an occasion analogous to that recorded in the early chapters of the second book of the Chronicles , which obtained a testimony of the seal of God's favour in that " when Solomon had made an

end of praying , the fire came down from Heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices ; and the glory of the Lord filled the house . And the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord , because the glory of the Lord had filled the house . And when all the children of Israel saw how the

fire came down , and the glory of the Lord upon the house , they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement , and worshipped , and praised the Lord saying : ' For He is good ; for His mercy endureth for ever . '" That great and glorious temple which was so dedicated , and which was so accepted , was a gift—an offering of a free gift to God . This temple

which we dedicate to-day is a gift likewise to God , the great architect divino ; and as the design on that occasion was none of Solomon's , but was by direct inspiration of that Mighty Architect , for whoso honour and glory the house was built , so this also is fashioned likewise according to ancient precedent ,

and here , as there , will most assuredly be realised the mighty truth contained in the words— " It is more blessed to give than to receive . " This temple of Freemasonry is set for the grand researches of our Order , researches into the hidden mysteries of nature and science , of real science of actual knowledge of Him of whom Fred Wm . Faber wrote : —

" Without an end or bound Thy life lies all outspread in light ; Our lives feel Thy life all around , Making our weakness strong , our darkness bright ; Yet it is neither wilderness nor sea ,

But the calm gladness of a full eternity I " And so , Brethren , our researches must be vast , according as the sea of knowledge of which we have dared to undertake the navigation is vast also . So vast as to be boundless . Our researches are vast , for they extend to tho utmost bounds of earth and Heaven . They centre round that grand motto of

Chiton , the Greek philosopher , " Know thyself . " They demand a due attention to the celebrated motto of another mighty Greek mind , " Know the opportunity . " To ensure diligent attention to our noble ritual , every Brother

must do his part , and that over and over again ; opportunity must be known and taken , repeatedly taken , by the forelock , for " opportunity is bald behind , " and so by continual attention and constant repetition a familiarity will arise which becomes a habit , not a familiarity which breeds contempt ,

for" As long as words , like mortals , call a fatherland their own , They will be most highly valued where they are best and longest known . " This is especially true with the noble ritual of Masonry ; they who know it best value it the most , the noblest natures set the highest value upon the noble words and bright examples of devotion which our annals exhibit , and

which will bo repeatedly and constantly set forth within these hallowed walls . Keep then , Brethren , well in mind the promise which I shall shortly make in the name of us all , a promise quoted from the tenth chapter of Nehemiah , " We will not forsake the house of our God . " We are sometimes accused , Brethren , of making Masonry our religion . This we do not do . But

we are content to be so accused if we may , without offence to our Holy God , put Masonry in the second place , for it emanates from God , and is His handiwork . And this reminds us very strongly of one of the dangers of our Craft , and warns us to be careful not to hold so close to the letter as to forget the spirit of our holy brotherhood . Let not words have a higher domination

over us than those deeds which the words pre-suppose . Take care to let the grand mottos of our Order be tho mottos of our own lives , our deeds and actions , and then the dedication of to-day will be a dedication of ourselves to the service of the Great Architect of the Universe , and a dedication of far wider influence than it can have when confined to this single temple of

Freemasonry . Virtue , unity , and universal benevolence are the three grand uses to which this temple is dedicated to-day , dedicated in joy and gratitude , with offerings of corn , and wine and oil , emblems of plentiful and beneficent food , of gladness of heart , nnri of cheerful joyousness of soul , for it is well

said by the Psalmist that among the bountiful gifts of God are " wine that maketh glad the heart of man , and oil to make him of cheerful countenance , and bread to strengthen man ' s heart . " It is dedicated with Angels' songs , the Tarsanctus of the Archangels in Heaven , who vail their faces while they cry , " Holy , Holy , Holy , Lord God Almighty : Heaven and earth arc full of

New Temple At Kelvedon.

Thy Glory ; Glory be to Thee , 0 Lord , most high ! " With thoughts like these before us we need not be ashamed to put Masonry in the hi ghest position next to out- Holy religion , and esteem it worthy of that high position second only to that which wo hold holiest and most sacred on earth . Masonry is progressive . We are sometimes accused of being stationary

utterly opposed to growth ancl enlargement . Thoso who accuse Masonry of being too steadfast might as well accuse a firmly set rock , upon which is build one of our grand cathedrals , of being too steadfast . Upon such a foundation a magnificent super-structure can be erected . Without such steadfastness nothing worthy of permanent regard can be built . Masonry

is progressive as nature is . Nature , in her marvellous laboratory , changes the common carbon of earth into the brilliant crystal of the diamond , and most brilliantly beautiful crystal tho eye of man can look upon among the things of this earth . Nature , in the process of crystallisation , progresses from a lump of carbon without form or beautv to the double

refracting glory of that bead of living light . Masonry , too , is progressive . It concerns itself deeply about the thousand and one things that affect humanity ; tho whole of humanity , at least , of civilised humanity , without distinction of race or creed . But this , with a majestic steadfastness and a calm leisure , which we are quite content to have falsely named stationary by the

unlearned and ignorant world . Set then , Brethren , deeply in your hearts the great principles to which this temple is dedicated to-day—Virtue , Unity , and Universal Benevolence . True Virtue is valour , valour in moving forward and upward iu civilisation , refinement , and beneficence . True Unity is oneness of heart and soul in the advance towards God and goodness . Oneness ,

by which all are united , W . M ., Wardens , Officers and Brethren , united in one shoulder to shoulder phalanx in their grand march to the great Lodge above . Universal Benevolence is wider than the world in its application , it is the mighty banner under which Masonry has made itself honoured and respected by mankind . It has the approbation of earth and Heaven , and binds mankind , as prayer does , by golden chains about the throne of God .

The ceremony of Consecration was then most ably carried out by the Earl of Warwick , assisted by the Provincial Grand Wardens Bros . Sir William Abdy and E . 0 . Wills , and the Director of Ceremonies Bro . A . Lucking , the musical portion

being charmingly rendered by Bros . E . Gowers , N . L . Hewlett , F . J . Motum , and E . Galpin . At its close the Worshipful Master of the Easterford Lodge Sir Wm . Abdy , assisted by his Officers , passed to the second degree Bro . A . Money Wigram , M . P . for the Eomford Division .

Seventy-one Brethren subsequently dined together m the Banqueting Hall of the Temple , the catering of Messrs . Wright and Son , of Colchester , giving the greatest satisfaction . Bro .

Sir Wm . Abdy W . M . occupied the chair , and he was supported by the distinguished company who had taken part in the earlier proceedings . After dinner , the Masonic toasts were honoured .

Sir Francis Alston , replying for that of the Grand Officers , said ho was delighted to find himself once more in an Essex Lodge . His connection with Essex Masonry had been life-long . Not only was he at one time a member of one of the oldest of its Lodges ( Hope and Unity ) , but he had held the office of

Provincial Grand Secretary . The pleasure of his visit had been greatly enhanced by his finding his nephew , Sir Wm . Abdy , holding such a distinguished position in the Craft in this county , and it would be long before he forgot the proceedings of that day .

Thc Grand Secretary also responded , and after congratulating those who had taken part in the ceremonies of the day on the ablo way in which they had been carried out , said it had given him great pleasure to be present at so interesting and unique an occasion . He could only hope that the erection of this magnificent Temple might ho au incentive to other Lodges to possess halls of their own .

The W . M ., in eulogistic terms , proposed thc Earl of Warwick Provincial Grand Master for Essex , comparing thc rule of his Lordship to that of a good colonel of a regiment—who knew how to maintain due discipline , and at thc

same time be a friend of those under him . Since his Lordship had been Provincial Grand Master the Lodges had increased from 19 to 37 , and he trusted that all the members of the fraternity in Essex would show themselves worthy of so good a ruler .

The Earl of Warwick , who received an ovation on rising to respond , said he could hardly find words to express how warmly he felt towards his Essex Brethren . He could not help recalling the time when he first came amongst them as a happy and fortunate husband . And then the next tie that bound them to him was when he was installed as their Provincial Grand Master in

the good old town of Colchester . With several of his Colchester friends before him , he was forcibly reminded of a brief but very pleasant connection he had with that good old town . It had been a matter of regret that , with

the many calls upon his time , he had not been able to come amongst them so often as before , but lie could assure them that his interest in the county had not abated , and he appreciated most thoroughly the warmth of their reception of him that day .

The W . M ., in proposing the Deputy Provincial Grand Master and Officers of the Province , remarked upon the high position that Bro . Philbrick held in the counsels of the Craft , and his readiness at all times to assist any of them

in their Masonic work . He had taken a great interest in this Temple , having carefully perused thc deed of conveyance , and also revised the arrangements of the ceremonies of the day . Thc Deputy Provincial Grand Blaster , after thanking the Brethren for