University Of London Lodge, No. 2033.

UNIVERSITY OF LONDON LODGE , No . 2033 .

CONSIDERING the heavy demands made on our space last week , by tho Girls' Festival and its accompanying Prize Distribution two days previously , we feel sure that our readers will acquit ns of intentional neglect in holding over till now the particulars of the consecration of

this new and promising Lodgo . The ceremony itself was a great success . There was a strong gathering of brethren of rank and influence in the Craffc , and it is impossible to deny that with so experienced a Mason as Bro . Philbrick , Q . C ., Grand Registrar , for its first W . Master , the Lodge

enters on its career under exceptionally favourable auspices , while none can wish it a more prosperous future than ourselves . There is , however , one point to which we are desirous of referring , namely , that the University of London Lodge must , in the very nature of things , be somewhat of

a class Lodge , and we venture very respectfully to suggest that the establishment of Lodges of this description is hardly in accordance with the received idea as to the universality of Masonry . It will , of course , be said there are Military Lodges ; there are the Lodges particularly associated with

the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge ; there is the Kaisar-i-Hind for Anglo-Indians , and others that might be enumerated , which , seeing their members are elected from particular sets , are , to all intents aud purposes class Lodges , though when they were established no alarm was raised

about the universality of Masonry being endangered . This perhaps , may be explained . Military Lodges are a necessity ofourmilitary organisation , while the Ox ford and Cambridge University Lodges , composed in each case of graduates and undergraduates , could hardly be said to have any justification

at all for their existence , if they were not confined to men of these Universities . But though tho University of London Lodge will be composed in like manner of London graduates and undergraduates , there is no corporate body in the case of the London University as there is at Oxford and

Cambridge . In London the men are all scattered about ; in Oxford and Cambridge they are concentrated iu one neighbourhood . Consequently we are brought face to face with the possibility that the University of London Lodge will be composed chiefly , if not entirely , of men living in different

parts of London and its suburbs , or even in the country , who would probably experience no difficulty in securing election into the Lodges in their respective neighbourhoods , but who think it necessary to go further afield in seeking admission into Masonry , so that they may associate in the Lodge

only with men of their own social standing . But with all due deference to the authorities , this kind of exclusiveness is contrary to the spirit of Freemasonry . We see no objection to a Military Lodge ; indeed , it is only in a Lodge attached to their regiment or corps that our military men

connected with it could practise the rites of Masonry , but there is no such apology to be offered for constituting Lodges which shall be open only to men of a particular grade or class of society . The great object of Freemasonry is to bring together men of all ranks and degrees , but if we

encourage this kind of class Lodge , we shall have our English Craft in time made up of a number of exclusive sets of men , who will readily enough associate with each other , if they happen to be of the same social standing , but not otherwise . Distinctions of rank exist outside the Lodge

but not in ifc , and , in order that we may preserve as far as possible the original idea thafc Freemasonry , provides a com mon bond of union for men of all classes , we would have our authorities discourage as much as possible the establishment of Lodges confined exclusively to any particular grade .

Having satisfied our conscience in this respect , we will return to the event of the day , Wednesday , the 14 fch May . The Right Hon . the E"erl of Carnarvon , the Pro Grand Master , had kindly undertaken the duties of Consecrating Officer , and he had for his assistants fche Right Hon . the

Earl of Millfcown G . S . W . as Senior Warden , Sir Francis Burdett Prov . Grand Master Middlesex as Junior Warden , while the Rev . 0 . W . Arnold , M . A ., Past Grand Chaplain , officiated as Chaplain . In the enforced absence , through illness , of Colonel Shadwell Gierke , Grand Secretary , who

had promised to instal the first Master , Bro . Thomas Fenn Pasfc Grand Deacon opened the Lodge , the Temple being placed at the disposal of tho brethren for the purposes of the meeting , and then the arrival of the Pro Grand Master was announced . Lord Carnarvon at ouce took the chair , and in his opening address said the

University Of London Lodge, No. 2033.

brethren had been summoned to consecrate and constitute this Lodge . The warrant had been obtained from the Grand Master , and he had the greatest satisfaction in undertaking the duties of Consecrating Officer . Of the character and prospects of the Lodge he would say nothing . Those who will take the first duties are perhaps the best representatives of its merits . They had his best wishes

for its future welfare . It would be composed of members of the London University , who were not only eminent Masons , but eminent in all the walks of life they had made their own . He felt its success -was assured . The ceremony was then commenced , with the usual formalities . The oration was given by the Rev . C . W . Arnold , who spoke as follows : —

BRETHREN , —I fear that in my oration to-day I shall but travel over well-trodden ground , for after so much has lately been said of the origin , history and principles of Freemasonry I can scarcely be expected to produce anything new . I would ask you then , Brethren , to bear with me for a few minutes whilst I endeavour to say what may be appropriate on this occasion , when we have met together to dedi .

oate a new Lodge nnder the most distinguished patronage , and with the happiest auspices—a Lodge which is to be especially devoted to mem . bers of the University of London . "Masonryhas increased in a marvellous manner dnring the past few years , and when we see the highest and noblest in the land , and men of the greatest intellectual powers , pressing into its ranks , it is natural for us to ask the question , " What is it

whioh makes Freemasonry so attractive . It cannot be charity alone , although we Masons maintain such magnificent charitable institutions that any man may well he proud of supporting them , for charity might just as well be practised without our rites and without our clothing . Ifc cannot be morality , however beautiful the system is which is fonnd in onr Masonic charges , for all that we teach may be

found in the Sacred Volume , and might easily be studied without Freemasonry . It cannot be only the pleasure of the social meetings whioh take place after our Lodges are closed , for social intercourse of the pleasantest kind may easily be enjoyed without Masonio work . All these combined no donbt offer some considerable inducements for men to join Freemasonry , bnt there must be something beyond ,

something higher than mere brotherly love and relief , great principles though they are , —yes , there must be something far deeper than this , which recommends Freemasonry to men of intellectual culture . If brotherly love and relief are all that Freemasonry contains , what ia the object of guarding ifc so completely by signs , tokens , and words , so that only those lawfully initiated into its mysteries may become

acquainted with them ? Freemasonry is bnt a casket whioh contains a priceless jewel , and that jewel is Truth ; and all our rites and ceremonies , our signs and passwords have been designed for the purpose of guarding this precious jewel and handing it down from age to age in all its purity and integrity . Just as in Grecian mythology Prome . theus is said to have brought down fire from Heaven as a gift to man

hidden in a hollow reed , so , concealed in our rites and mysteries , Divine Truth has been passed on from generation to generation , and we have the highest authority for the use of pass-words as a safeguard of our truths , even that of the Almighty Architect Himself , who , when he revealed Himself to Moses in the burning bush , gave him a pass-¦ word as a voucher for the truth of His message to the children of

Israel . There seems to be little doubt that in very early ages , when guilds of Masons were first established , they were formed to preserve a Speculative as well as an Operative knowledge , and through many centuries theso were handed down together to successive generations j but Operative Masonry received its death-blow at the dissolution of the Monasteries in the middle of the 16 th century , whilst Speculative

Masonry lingered on and was well nigh extingnished , until afc the beginning of the 18 th century it was revived , and gradually passed into that beautiful ritual which we practise to-day . It is Speculative Masonry which has preserved for us those precious truths of whioh I spoke . In every age of the world we find man as his intellectual f acnltieshave become developed seeking after Truth . "What is Truth ?"

was the question of the Roman Pilate on his judgment seat . " What is Truth ? " was the object of research to Pythagoras and Socrates and Plato and all the well-known philosophers of old . But what they sought for as something lost , something unknown , Freemasonry was quietly handing down from age to age . It teaches us the great truths of the existence of one God , the Maker and Creator of all things , and

the common Father of all mankind ; it teaches us that we all , as children of this one common Father , are Brethren ; it assures us of the immortality of the soul , and tells us of a time when we shall be summoned to the Grand Lodge above , where the world ' s Great Architect lives and reigns for evermore . He sets before ns in the three Degrees a beautiful allegory of the life of man from childhood even to

old age . It reminds ns how we came into this world poor and penniless ; under the fostering care of T . G . A . O . T . U . we have passed through the dangers of childhood and arrived at man ' s estate ; we pass on by regular steps across tho chequered flooring of the world , learning lessons as we go , looking up from nature to nature ' s God : in the third degree still more knowledge is given

to us as we behold the emblems of immortality aronnd ns , and the bright star-above whose light pierces oven through the darkness of the tomb . Thus in each step of Masonry fresh truths are revealed and the best instrnction given , how man must livo on earth , how die , how rest in heaven , when he shall have ascended to those immortal mansions whence all goodness emanates . Still further , Masonry «

the handmaid of religion , directing us to the volume of the Sacreu Law to guide onr actions and govern our faith . And as man is weak and liable to err , so does Freemasonry give him help along the path of life , so that every instrument he handles in his work may remind him of some moral duty . Thus , Brethren , I say Masonry ia worthy of the noblest intellect of man , for the more we study it the more treasures do we discover in it , and the deeper do its lessons sink