Consecration Of The Wolseley Lodge. No. 1993.

CONSECRATION OF THE WOLSELEY LODGE . No . 1993 .

THIS event , which had been looked forward to with a vast amount of interest , took place on Wednesday last , at Manchester . The oeremony of the day was performed by the R . W . Provincial Grand Master , Brother Colonel Le Gendre N . Starkie , who was supported by a large number of Present and Provincial Grand Officers , who

attended from all parts of the kingdom to do honour to the occasion . The new Lodge is named after Bro . Lord Wolseley , the gallant soldier , who achieved such distinction by his able conduct of the war in Egypt , and—as has been already fully treated upon in these oolnmns—starts upon what are called Temperanoe principles . The proceedings took place at the Town Hall , where a Craft Lodge was

opened at 2 * 40 , the Provincial Grand Master being supported by the guest of the day , Bro . Lord Wolseley . When the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master had been saluted in the usual manner , he said they had assembled to constitute a Lodge for the benefit of Freemasonry , and he hoped at the same time for the benefit of society at large . They were met under very pleasing ,

and also , he thought , singular auspices . A certain number of persons , who were connected more or less witk temperance and with teetotalism , two very essential matters , wished to join themselves to a Fraternity of Freemasons in this large and influential Province . Their efforts had been so far successful , and it was his hearty wish , and also he hoped of every good Mason , that

the Lodge which they had founded would prosper and extensively benefit their Order . They had chosen for its name one of England's most illustrious subjects , and he felt exceedingly proud that Lord Wolseley had come there to help them to inaugurate a movement whioh he hoped would have many ramifications . To the brethren who had supported this movement he would say , go on and prosper ,

and he trusted that others who might probably have been debarred from joining their association would now feel differently , and enter into the haven of brotherly love and affeotion whioh they held out to all mankind , uniting with them in the one single object they had in view . After the petition and warrant had been read , the Prov . Grand Chaplain , Brother Rev . T . Collins delivered an oration , and

the formal oeremony was proceeded with , and completed . The W . M . designate of the Lodge , Brother D . Edwards , was installed by Bro , James Heelis Provincial Grand Registrar , and the Officers were in . vested , as follows : —Bros . 'P . Barker I . P . M ., G . Hunt S . W ., P . H . Davis J . W ., Rev . H . Anthony Noel Chaplain , J . E . Iliff Treasurer , John Hatton Secretary , W . Willis S . D ., T . H . Thomason J . D ., H .

Darbyshire M . C ., W . B . Riley I . G ., T . Campbell Organist , L . J . Griffiths , H . W . Riley , W . H . Withington , and R . Beresford Stewards . The addresses having been delivered , the Provincial Grand Chaplain oonoluded the ceremony with prayer . The W . M . proposed a vote of thanks to the R . W . Prov . G . M ., Colonel Starkie , for his kindness in officiating at the consecration , and the Provincial Grand Master in

acknowledging the compliment said he longed to see Freemasonry extend itself among all classes and shades of men . He and the Provincial Grand Officers welcomed this Lodge into the Fraternity as their last new child ; they had been present at-its baptism , and hoped to witness its coming of age . The Worshipfnl Master , in proposing a vote of thanks to Brother Lord Wolseley , stated

that when the founders of the Lodge first wrote to his Lordship , he at once replied that he shonld be delighted to attend the consecration , and give his name to the Lodge , bnt he could not join it , because strong as he was in favour of temporance principles he was not strictly a teetotaller . They now informed his lordship that they welcomed into the Lodge all Masons , whether they were

teetotallers or not . The only prohibitory bye-law they had was , that not more than a certain amount should be spent per year for refreshments , and that no intoxicating beverages shonld be allowed at any of their meetings . On hearing this , Lord Wolseley said he should be delighted to become a member of the Lodge . Lord Wolseley , in

reply , said : Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master , Worshipful Master , and Brother Masons , I do not think I have ever attended any meeting which has made a greater impression upon me than the present one , and I shall carry the remembrance of it wherever I go . Believe me I am most deeply sensible of the cordiality and warmth with which I have been greeted by so many distinguished Masons

belonging to the Province of Lancashire . I assure you it is a very great pleasure , as well as an honour , to me to be here to-day , and to have the privilege of assisting at the inauguration of a Lodge which my brethren have done me the honour to name the Wolseley Lodge . During my career in my profession of arms it has been my lot to have visited most parts of the world , aud to go to many distant and out of the way places , and I can say with the utmost confidence that wherever I went I

have always found the utmost benefit and advantage from the fact of my being a Master Mason . As the hour is late I Bhall not detain you by giving any examples , though I conld give many where the fact of my being a Mason has assisted me in the most material possible manner in the prosecution of my duty to the public and to Her Majesty . I can only say this , that old as I am if I were not a Mason

now I would take the very earliest opportunity of asking the first friend * I met who was a Mason to do me the honour of proposing me . Let me again thank you for the great cordiality and kindness with which you have received me , and let me assure you that no one conld wish success to this Lodge more heartily than I do . Lodge was then closed . The banquet took place at the Free Trade Hall , where the W . M . presided ; he was supported right and left by Col Starkie

and Lord Wolseley . The usual loyal toasts met with a hearty reception , and full honour was done when the W . M . called on the brethren to drink the health of their R . W . Provincial Grand Master . Lord Wolseley , in proposing Prosperity to the Wolseley Lodge , said he became a Mason at twenty-one years of age , just before he left the English shores on his first expedition abroad . At that time a very common idea seemed to prevail that Masonry consisted merely in the going through of some fantastic and meaningless ceremonies ,

and that the members of a Lodge were in the habit of sitting up late at night , eating indigestible suppers , and drinking more wine than was good for them . Even at the present day this old accusation wa 3 frequently levelled at them , bnt the inauguration of that Lodge—the second conducted on the temperance principle that had been established in the kingdom—ought to do something to dispel

the idea . He thought that every step taken in the direction of temperance reform should be welcomed , not only by every good Mason , but by every lover of his country . A reform such as ternperance advocates desired would , he considered , be greater both morally and materially than any reform of the franchise or any other of the reforms which were so mnoh in favour with the people of

England . He believed that the formation of a Lodge on such principles was more likely to be of use than any other reform which Masons could adopt . Bro . Daniel Edwatds responded . In the oourse of his remarks ho said , it must never be understood that the Wolseley Lodge was originated as a protest against the intemperance said to be practised amongst Freemasons . Freemasons in .

variably were taught that one of their fundamental principles was temperance . As the first Master of the Lodge , he had to say that it was formed with the idea of embracing within its fold those good men and true who would not come into Freemasonry without a Lodge of that sort , and not as a protest against Lodges that already existed , Although it was to be a temperance Lodge , he need hardly say

that every Mason would be admitted and welcomed within it , Started under such auspices , and founded upon such principles , the Wolseley Lodge would and must have the approbation of the Great Architect of the Universe . The remaining toasts received full recognition , and the proceedings throughout seemed to give every satisfaction to the large body who took pare in them .

The admission of an M . P . to the mysteries and privileges of Freemasonry was an event of sufficient importance to cause some stir , and a large local gathering at the Huyshe Masonic Temple , Plymouth , on the 27 th instant . The spacious room in which Harmony Lodge , No . 156 , and

other Lodges meet , was very tastefully decorated for the occasion . The banners of the various Lodges , and some were venerable ones , ornamented the walls , whilst the room generally was made bright and beautiful with plants , and a very satisfactory choir was improvised for the oceasion .

Those who know the Officers of Harmony Lodge will not be surprised to hear that not only the Worshipful Master and his Wardens , but each of the Officers , performed his part of the ceremony most efficiently and well , and that the whole passed off without the least approach to a hitch .

After the duties were ended and Lodge closed , Bro . Macliver , at the request of the W . M ., made a short speech , saying that his impression of Freemasonry , so far as he was able to judge , was very favourable . He was glad to find a thoroughly unsectarian religious basis , and said he should

be glad if he could be of any assistance to the Order . His son had told him of the great and beneficial effect of Freemasonry in America , where he had attended meetings at which some four or five thousand Masons were present . — Western Daily Mercury .

At a meeting of the Royal Sussex Lodge , No . 342 , held on Wednesday , the 21 st instant , a Past Master ' s jewel was presented to Bro . J . Brickwood I . P . M . The jewel bears

the following inscription : — " Presented , by the members of the Royal Sussex Lodge , No . 342 , to Bro . John Brickwood , on his retiring from the chair , as a token of esteem and regard . "

Bro . Marsh ( professionally known as Henry Marston ) , who for many years was associated with the late Samuel Phelps at the old Sadler ' s Wells Theatre , died on Thursday , the 22 nd inst . Brother Marsh ' s career as an actor

extended over a period of fifty years , and he will long be remembered by the old school of playgoers as a capable and conscientious exponent of the best principles of the dramatic art .

At the Gaiety Theatre , on the afternoon of Monday , the 9 th April , will be presented " Vice Versa , " a Lesson to Fathers , in three Tableaux , being a stage version , by Edward Rose , of the very successful story of the same name by Mr . Anstey , who has given Mr . Rose sole and exclusive right to dramatise the story .

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