Notices Of Meetings.

NOTICES OF MEETINGS .

— : o : — CONSECRATION OF THB EASTER-FORD LODGE , No . 23-12 . SINCE tho appointment of Lord Brooke , M . P ., as snpremo ruler oi tho Masonio Craft in Essex , in 1 SS 2 , the Order has prospered beyond all precedent . Up fco tho end of 18 S 9 no loss than ten now Lodges had boon added to tho Province- and Inat week we

chronicled tho consecration of the eleventh new Lodgo , viz ., tho Mi' -. tley , which is to , weetntManningtroe . On Wednesday , 19 th inst ., a further addition wns made to the list , iu the consecration of the Easterford Lodge , afc Kelvedon ; the ceremony boing performed in an able manner by the Depnty Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Philbrick , Q . C , Grand Registrar , in the mnch-regretted absence , throngh

continued indisposition , of the Prov . Grand Master , Lord Brooke , M . P . Tlie event had been looked forward to with much interest , the result being a very large gathering of Masons from every part of the Province , and when all were assembled in fall regalia iu the Public Hall , where the ceremony of the day took placo , the scene was a brilliant one . The Hall itself was tastefully adorned with flags lont

by friends from Maldon and Tollesbury , while on the dais were Home handsome flowers and ornamental plants sent by Mrs . Watson , from Felix Hall , and Mr . A . W . Ruggles Briso , from Durwards , Mr . Hill , gardener to the latter gentlemen , arranging the same most tastefully . The Lodge has been particularly fortunate as regards its furniture nnd appointments . What may be described as the " heavy furniture "

is most substantial , and has been made locally . The pedestals , whioh are given respectively by the W . M ., S . W ., and J . W ., have been well made , and from specially-selected panel oak , by Bro . Jos . Grimes , of Colchester , who himself presented a Secretary ' s desk , to match the pedestals ; the chairs , one of whioh is given by Bro . 'Carzbn , J . P ., are triumphs of the cabinet maker ' s art , from tbe

workshop of Mr . W . B . Polley , of Coggeshall ; a kneehng-stool is given by Bro . W . M . Mead ; Bro . W . Strutt gives Biblo and cushion j the Provincial Grand Treasurer presents square and compasses and gavel Bro . G . A . Eustace , two swords ; Bro . R . B . Colvin , broken column ; and Bro . 0 . T . Thorn , firing glasses . The banner of the Lodge , in the centre of which is a representation of a knight about

to cross a ford , and tho arms of the Worshipfnl Master aud benior Warden haa beon most artistically executed by tho Misses Turner , of Kelvedon . The proceedings on Wednesday commenced at two o'olock , tho Depnty Provincial Grand Master presiding , and the other offices woro occupied as follow : —Bros . Lennox lirowuo P . G . S . W . Senior Warden , E . H . Baily P . G . J . W . Junior Wnrden , the Rov . W .

Quennell P . G . O . Chaplain , T . J . Railing P . A . G . D . C . Eog . Prov . Grand See . Secretary , A . Lucking P . G . P . Eug . Prov . D . C . Director of Ceremonies , Richard Clowes P . P . G . S . W . Inner Guard . Tho Lodgo having beon duly opened , and tho hymn , " Hail Eternal , by whose aid , " having been sung , the D . P . G . M . briefly addressed tho brethren on the object of thoir boing gathered together . He said ] they wero met on a very

interesting occasion , as it mnst be of real interest to all true brethren to bo gathered upon an occasion of this kind , when a new Lodge was about to bo added to the roll of tbe Grand Lodge of England , and also to the banner of their beloved and esteemed Provincial Grand Master Lord Brooke . Generally speaking , occasions of this kind wero comparatively rare , for although some new warrants had of

lato been granted , he conld , from personal knowledge , testify to the difficulty there is now-a-days in obtaining a warrant , owing to the natural reluctance of tho M . W . G . M . to increase tho number of Lodges unless they are likely to obtain adequate snpport without weakening Lodges already established ; and whore thoy would form rallying points for Freemasons residing in a district already insufficiently

supplied . Theso remarks might appear somewhat singular in the face of tho fact that only this day week they were assembled , in a neighbouring part of tho Province , consecrating a new Lodge , viz ., the Mistley . But these two warrants would not have been granted had not the M . W . G . M ., on the recommendation of the P . G . M ., felt that a real need existed . Unhappily he had again on this occasion , in tho

mnch to be regretted absence of the P . G . M ., to act as his Deputy . He held in his hand a letter from his Lordship in whioh , after mentioning that he had been sent by his medical adviser to the seaside , that he was only able to crawl out a little while each day , and could therefore hardly yet feel much better , his Lordship added , "Tell the Kelvedon Brethren how disappointed I am , as there are many of my

friends among them . " Personally it was to him ( Bro . Philbrick ) a great disappointment , as he was suro it was also to the promoters of tho Lodgo and the visitors present , but as all the arrangements had been made it was not right that these proceedings should be postponed . Thoy were met in a district where thero had never yet been a Freemasons' Lodge . There were , however , in Kelvedon and

neighbourhood somo energetic and good Masons , and they having reported to the P . G . M ., and his Lordship , in his turn to the M . W . G . M . their desire to form a Lodge , tho warrant had been granted . For tho W . M . designate tbey had Bro . tho Rev . Thomas Lloyd , who had obtained high honours in another Province—Staffordshire ; for Senior Warden they had Bro . Dr . Slater , a Mason of long standing ;

and there were among those who had undertaken tho arduous duties of Founders brethren who were well known in society in this neighbourhood . In behalf of thoso charged with tho government of the Province , he wished the Easterford Lodge every possible success . He need hardly add that they felt and believed thero was room for this Lodge . Thoy trusted the Founders wonld remember the great

importance of the trust placed in their hands . To them was given to illustrate to tho outside world ( so far as they wore permitted to see ) what the trne principles of Freemasonry were . Let the brethren now belonging to the Lodge , and those who might be enrolled amongst its members , hold thoir banner high—to lot it be seen that Freemasonry is a living power for good . The Provincial Grand Secretary then read the petition and warrant , and the

Notices Of Meetings.

petitioners signified their approval of the Officers named in the warrant . An eloquent address on the nature and principles of the Institution by tho Chaplain ( Bro . tha Rev . W . Quennell ) followed . The rev . brother remarked : — Ho that would make a permanent and stable building must take heed that ho lay a good foundation . Upon that rests ali the strength

and statelinoss of tho superstructure ; without that no beauty of ornamentation , no apparent strength will suffice to withstand tho certain fall . And this is true no loss in regard to an institution—no less iu a metaphorical than in a literal sense . When then , at this tho consecration of a new Lodge in Freemasonry , I am bidden to speak of tho principles and purposes of our Order , it is in other words a

mandate to look to the foundation npon which all onr Craft is built , to seo how solid and strong they are , if we may take heart from the consideration of those principles whioh underlie all our proceedings , and on the other hand may see that what we do in our life as Masons bo consistent with them . There is no foundation for anything in human life that can stand the teat of time and the shocks of chance

bnt the foundation of true religion j and by true religion I mean the recognition of the Divine Ruler and of our responsibility to Him , and the recognition of our place in the world with its duties towards those who are above ns for government and order , towards those who are around ns for mutual friendship and kindness , towards those who are beneath us , in obedience to the saored call of charity . Wherever

men are placed—whatever their calling , whatever purpose of life they may set before them—these principles must be at the bottom of all , if they are to expect any success , or attain any lasting useful , ness . Theso principles , and none less than these , are the foundations of Freemasonry . They are fostered by the whole routine of all our work ; they shew themselves in all , oven the most ordinary parts of

our business . We do nothing bnt in the acknowledged presence of the Most High . The Volume of the saored Law lies open as the charter of our Order His name is invoked ; His law recognised life is spoken of as His gift , to be used in His honour , to be accounted for at His judgment seat . And then , turning from the Invisible Presence , whose degrees we ever acknowledge as supreme , within

tho Lodgo we find : First , the authority of the Master , respected by all , his word our law , his presence our grace , himself commanding obedience to his ruling because ho rules in observance of ancient constitution , In him we see tho embodiment of human government , onr loyalty to him is the pattern of loyalty to all constituted authority , and is its handmaid . They spoak without knowledge , and

as all such speakers do , fall far from the truth , who think that in Freemasons there is a lack either of true religion or true loyalty , for both ono and tbo other aro bright and strong foundation atonescorner stones—upholding all our beautiful fabric . But with theso , I may say because of these , thero are tho other two . It is ono chief duty of the principal officer of every Lodge to " see that every brother

has his duo . " Tho idea of Brotherhood—and the idea of tho mutual claims that brother has upon brother—that each acknowledges something as his duo to the others , this , which civilisation teaches men at largo , is a third foundation atone of the Craft . And how large a part of our common life does ib maintain—the expulsion from the midst of ns of both the feeling and the expression of ill-will ,

the binding together in the ties of amity and good-fellowship of men who havo pure intentions and purposes whioh will bear the light of day—men with no double face , or double tongue , but who look ono another in the face and grasp hand in hand , and meet as equals on the broad platform of Brotherhood . Then , lastly , there is the bond-stone of charity . In a world which has its difficulties and

disappointments , as well as its successes and victories , there mnst be thoso that fall under tho one , as well as those that rise superior to all aud snrraounfc the steep ascent . The Charities whioh are associated with tho name of Mason show that by our first principles we are invited to feel for those that fall into trouble , and for the children of those brethren who have been taken from us . If then I am to

name tho principles of our Order , I must say they are—religion and loyalty , and justice and benevolence , und if these words do not sufficiently particularize its purposes , they are in brief : To promote the honour of the Most High , to foster obedience to all constituted authority , to render to all their due , to support and comfort the sick , the poor , the bereaved . On these principles , with these purposes , our goodly Society is formed . And what remains , but to see that we

fulfil them . What other purpose should the brethren of a new Lodge have set before them than to add to the castles of the Order one more stronghold upon the old foundations , and to see that they are ever remembered ; that they are nob things about whioh we only talk , bnt which we fee ) , and principles npon wbich we act . I think I am not exceeding my privilege in saying thab it is the wish of all present at this august ceremony that these principles may guide the members of thia Easterford Lodge throughout the ages that are to come .

The ceremony of consecration was then proceeded wifch , and at its conclusion Bro . Lennox Browne installed Bro . the Rev . Thomas Lloyd P . P . G . C . Staffs ( Rector of Easthorpe ) as the first W . M ., who , in his turn , invested his Officers for the ensuing year , asunder : —Bros . J . H . Salter , J . P ., S . W ., J . L . Ogier J . W ., Robert Curzon , J . P ., Treasurer , Mark W . Meade I . P . M . 1977 Secretary , R . B . Colvin , J . P ., S . D .,

W . Strutt J . D ., George A . Eustace P . M . 697 P . P . G . Std . Bearer D . C , C . T . Thorn I . G ., F . C . Herbert Steward , James Inifor Tyler . The musical portions of the ceremony were ably carried out by Brothers Osmond , Gowers , Sparling , Coombs , and Motnni . A vote of thanks was unanimously passed to the D . P . G . M . and other consecrating Officers for their assistance , and together with the P . G . M . they were elected Honorary Members of the Lodge . Thanks wore also accorded

to Miss Philbrick for preparing a large number of button-holes , from orchids supplied by Bro . F . Horsman W . M . 51 . Tho W . M . was elected to represent the Lodge on the Essex Provincial Charity Com mittee , and the names of several local gentlemen were proposed os candidates for initiation or joining members . Between 70 and 80 brethren afterwards dined together at tho Angel Hotel , a splendid repast being well served by Messrs . Wright and Son , of Colchester .