Quarterly Communication Of United Grand Lodge.

2195 , — The Caterham Lodge , Surrey . 209 ft . —The George Price Lodge , Croydon , Surrey . 2097 . —Tho Newcastle Lodge , Newcastle , Natal . 2 C 98 . —The ITnrlosden Lodge , Harlesden , London . 2009 . —The Ethelbert Lodge , Home Bay , Kent . 2100 . —The Cama Lodge , Hampton Court , Middlesex . 2101 . —The Bramston B ach Lodge , Godalming , Surrey .

N . B . —The Revised Edition of the Book of Constitnfions ( 188 I ) may be obtained at the Grand Secretary ' s Office , iu Svo and 32 tno , price ls Gd a copy , bound in cloth ..

The "Freemasons' Calendar and Pocket Book "for 1885 is now ready ; it can be had at tlie Grand Secretary ' s Office , Freemasons' Hall , London , price 2 s , bound in roan .

Consecration Of The George Price Lodge, No. 2096.

CONSECRATION OF THE GEORGE PRICE LODGE , No . 2096 .

ONE of the last matters which arc arranged in connection with a new Lodge , aud yet ono of the most important in regard to its future , is that of its name . Every detail may be settled to a nicety , , every arrangement made for tho petition to bo regularly presented , j and reasonable hopes entertained of tho ultimate granting of the i

warrant , without serious thought being given to the naming of the Lodge . When the subject does come on for consideration among the founders , how many divergencies of opinion often arise , aud how difficult it becomes to satisfy all the requirements which soem to bo needed in connection with the name . For our part we are averse , as

a rule , to tho naming of Lodges after well known brethren , and we are of opinion that much mny be said in opposition to such a course , but on the other hand there is mnrh to bo advanced in its favour . The Province of Surrey is particularly strong in this respect , it having several Lodges named in honour of its prominent Masons ,

notably the Brownrigg , the Arnold , and the Greenwood , aud has just added another to its roll , having for its title tho name of ono of tho must distinguished members of its Provincial Grand Lodge . No one will question the policy of the founders in selecting for their title the name of so distinguished a Mason as Bro . George Prico , who has

been intimately associated with the Masonic work of the district for over thirty years , during a considerable portion of which period he has filled the important post of Provincial Grand Treasurer . The George Price Lodge was formally consecrated on Wednesday last , at the Greyhound Hotel , Croydon . Bro . the Rev . C . W . Arnold

P . G . C . Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Surrey acted as consecrating Officer , in tho regretted absence of the chief of the ] Province , Gen . Studliolme Brownrigg , C . B ., who was prevented from being present , ns he had intended , in consequence of indisposition , j Bro . Arnold nominated for his Officers Bro . George Prico S . W ., Dr . !

Strong J . W . John G . Horsey officiated as Director of Ceremonies and Chailes Greenwood jun . as Inner Guard . Lodge was opened in tho three degrees , and tho opening hymn "Hail , Eternal , by whoso aid , " was sung . In his preliminary address Bro . Arnold said the brethren had met that day to consecrate a Lodge . Ho understood

that the brother who was designated to preside over it had been initiated into Freemasonry at a very early age . He felt sure , from a study of the names of the brethren who wero tho founders of the Lodge that they would do their best to maintain its efficiency , nnd to admit only good men and true into the Craft . He

hoped the Lodge would become a good nnd useful one in the Province , j Tho Acting Secretary ( Bro . Charles Greenwood P . G . Sw . B . Prov . G . j Sec . ) having addressed the Consecrating Officer and received diroc- j tions , tho brt'tliten of tho new Lodge were arranged in order , and the Warrant was read . Approval of the Officers named in the Warrant

having been given , the Chaplain WP . S called upon . Bro . tho Rev . G . P . Meirick , tho Provincial Grand Chaplain , said that although on such occasions an oration was customary , ho felt there was nothing new to s ; iy , neither were any lengthened remarks necessary , inasmuch as the precepts and principles of Freemasonry were so

frequeutly being inculcated in the general working of its rites and ceremonies . Moreover , the ritual of the Order was a sermon in itself , and it was only necessary for tho brethren to look around them to realise an oration in their Temple , their ritual , and the precepts taught thereby . The Temple of Freemasonry pointed to tbe Great Architect

of the Universe , the ritual to the worship of thesouland its adoration and service to the honour of the Most High , while its precepts point to the love which commends our behaviour to the world generally and to the Brotherhood in particular . Our Order is established on the three pillars of Brotherly Lore , Relief and Truth , and tells of

our attitude iu relation to tho tbreo parts of our being—body , soul , and spirit , la a sermon wanted with this text always befo / o ns ? Practise devotion to tho Most High , a puro faith , a universal chariiy , a blameless life . Masons have a noble profession , and should so act that their lives should

illustrate their piiuciplos , thus lotting tho world know them as Ma :-onp , v . ho > o only impulses aro Brotherly Love , Relief and Truth . The ceremony of consecration and dedication having brcn completed , Bro . Joseph David Langton was installed as Worstr ' pful Master , and he in duo course appointed and invested the following as

his Ollic . rs :-Ili ! glt Marcus Hnbbs S . W ., Francis T . Ridpath J . W ., Jor-r-ph Ltmgion ( elecieo ) Treas ., J . S . Praser Sea , Ernest Samuel S . D .. M . L . Levey J . D ., W . G . Gocda I . G ., C . Sbeppord Tyler . Several propositions from gentlemen seeking initiation an : l from brethren de-itiug to join the Loege wero handed in , and the thanks

of iho Lodge was voted Jo tho Consecrating Officer and those brethren who had as .-utcd him in the ceremony . Honorary n . embership r , f the Lodge was conferred on these brethren , and alsc on the Rt . lion , the Lord Mayor of Loudon and Bro . Ccl . Shadwell II , Gierke O . Sec . Bro , the Key . C W . Arnold acknowledged the compliment

Consecration Of The George Price Lodge, No. 2096.

which had been conferred by their election as honorary members , and was followed by the Lord Mayor and Bro . Gierke . Lodgo waa shortly afterwards closed and tho brethren proceeded to banquet . At , its conclusion , the usual toasts wero honoured . Tho Worshipful Master was pleased the cordial reception of the toast of

tho Queen and the Craft did not depend on any words of his . It was a sentiment at all times sure of a cordial reception among Englishmen generally , but particularly so among members of the Masonio Order . Speaking to the next toast , the Most Worshipful the Grand Master , the W . M . felt that

Freemasons might , congratulate themselves on haying the Prince of Wa ' es its their ruler . Ever since his election as Grand Master he hud seemed determined not to lot any long period pass without showing his interest in tho business of tho Craft . The initiation of his eldest son , Prince Albert Victor , into Freemasonry was a striking

illustration of the interest taken in the Order by His Royal Highness , and the brethren might look forward with confidence to the time when the young Prince would fill some high office in the Order . The W . M . concluded by referring to the recent visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales and Prince Albert Victor to Ireland , expressing

the pleasure he felt at , the success which had attended their tour in the sister Isle , and his gratification that it had passed off without any display of disloyalty to the Royal visitors . Tho toast of the Pro Grand Master , the Deputy Grand Master , and tho rest of the Grand Officers was next given . The Worshipful Master spoke of the

honour conferred on the Lodgo by the presence of tbe Lord Mayor of London , Past Grand Warden , at its consecration . They were indeed thankful to him for having found time , amidst bis thousand and one engagements , to attend their meeting . The W . M . had the honour of belonging to No . 1 Lodge , the one over which the

Lord Mayor bad presided dnring the past year ; he had there bad the opportunity of seeing him in the position of W . M ., and witnessing how well he performed the duties of that office . His proficiency in the work enhanced the character of the famous Grand Masters' Lodge , while personall y ho had endeared himself to each of its members .

The George Price Lodge had also tho honour of having among its guests several other Officers of Grand Lodge , notably the Rev . C . W . Arnold P . G . C ., who had so ably officiated as the Consecrating Officer , Colonel Shadwell Gierke the Grand Secretary , Charles Greenwood P . G . Sw . B ., the Provincial Grand Secretary ; Bros . Dumas , Rucker ,

Dr . Ralph Gooding , and Bro . A . Lacking . The Lord Mayor was the first to reply . Tho toast , he said , would also be replied to by one who was a permanent Grand Officer , or permanent so far as any such appointment could be , and to that brother who would so respond—Colonel Shadwell Gierke—ho and Masons generally were very deeply

indebted . It was undoubtedly true that the brethren owed very much to tho Grand Master and other distinguished members of the Order , but to Bro . Colonel Shadwell Gierke they looked , as the right hand man , for advice . They could always depend on getting it . He imagined that the Grand Master , previous to authorising the

foundation of this Lodgo , had had tho advice of Bro , Gierke , and had doubtless acted on it . Speaking for himself , tho Lord Mayor warmly thanked the brethren for coupling his name with tho toast , aud more particularly for having invited him to the Lodge and conferring on him the honour of membership . Ho know ho was an indifferent

Mason , and felt he ought to do more for Freemasonry . When accepting tho invir . ation to be with them that day he had known he should be received with that kindness which was over displayed under such circumstances . It had afforded him great pleasure to visit the Lodge , which ho hoped wonld flourish . Bro . Shadwell Gierke , Grand

Secretary , followed . Being a person of unquestionable modesty , ho said , ho had felt entirely taken aback in having to respond to tho toast properly assigned to tho Lord Mayor . His Lordship hud been good enough to say very kind things of him , and coming from such a generous hearted brother they were very acceptable . He

did not , however , thank his lordship for having brought him to hi 8 feet , nit hough he was at all times pleased to say a word on behalf of tho Grand Officers who , in their various capacities , well filled tbe responsible positions given to them . They were brethren who had all done good suit and service to the Order , aud the Grand Master ,

in appointing them , had rewarded merit . Ic was to them a pleasure to receive the kind and hearty reception they experienced at Masonic meetings , and they appreciated it . He was sure the time wonld never come v ; hen they would not receive it . They always took interest in the purposes of Masonry , and were delighted to find

a Lodge started under such favourable auspices as the George Price Lodge . They considered ifc a most graceful tribute to the worth of a very old member of the Province , and they congratulated him on the honour done him . They also congratulated the Lo'lge on being presided over by such excellent Officers . With such brethren

at tiic headofafFu ' rsit could but prosper . Ho felt sure it would be a most successful Lodgo and a credit to the Province of Surrey . The W . M . next , gave the toast of the R . W . Provincial Grand Master , General Stndholme Brownrigg , C . B ., reading a letter from that brother , regretting his inability to bo present owing to a severe

cold , and congratulating the Lodgo on its having taken so loved and honoured a name as that of Bro . George Price . The W . M . was sure theb : ethren one and all deeply regretted the absence , and tho cause of tho absence , of Genera ! Brownrigg , but they might congratulate themselves on having his Deputy with them . They thanked Bro .

Arnold most sincerely for coming amongst them and performing the ceremony of consecration and installation . Tho other Provincial Grand Officers they were also delighted to see , and they trusted that during tho ycara tho Lodgo existed it would never do anything which

would cause tho Provincial Grand Officers to regret for a moment that the Lodge came into this Province . Ho hoped rather that they would look back with , pleasure to the day when it was brought into existence .

Bro . Arnold in responding , said it was a source of groat regret to Gen . Brownrigg that he was not able to be present that day . D 7 e was with him at Caterham on Saturday last , which was , unfortunately , a wet clay , and the Prov . G . Master was not well at the time .