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Article MASONIC STUDIES. ← Page 2 of 2 Article Original Correspondence. Page 1 of 1 Article UNITED GRAND LODGE. Page 1 of 1 Article LIST OF NEW LODGES. Page 1 of 1 Article ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. Page 1 of 2 Article CONSECRATION OF THE SIR CHARLES BRIGHT LODGE, No. 1793. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Studies.
names of Mackey , Macoy , Steinbrenner , E . T . Carson , Fort , Clifford P . Macalla , and many others well known to fame in various ways and for various efforts . We rejoice to mention such names , and to note such results . In the next Masonic n / imm % ine will appear a valuable contribution
of Bro . R . F . Gould in respect of the numeration of lodges , as well as a catalogue of Masonic books , by the Editor , both of which will be very valuable to Masonic students . Too much cannot be said for the efforts of those who seek to vivifv and develope
Masonic literature amongst us , and to aid Masonic studies . We hope still to witness a literary revival amongst us , when the laborious efforts of a few faithful and earnest Masonic students will be appreciated and applauded , and brethren will learn to believe at last that a good deal may
be written , and a good deal moreover read with interest about Freemasonry . If the reviler and the scorner tell us we have no Masonic literature , as ignorance likes sometimes to say , we beg to refer all such " obscurantists " to Bro . Fort ' s
" History of the Antiquities of Freemasonry , ' as a work "sui generis , " reall y remarkable " per se , " worthy of any order ; and which deserves , as it has received , careful perusal and friendly acknowledgments from all , whether Masons or non-Masons .
Original Correspondence.
Original Correspondence .
\\\ f . do y-ot hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving of , the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ]
ST . ALBAN'S ABBEY . To thc Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I am very happy to note the Masonic movement to help to restore this noble building . This is most emphatically a Masonic work . 1 trust that Bro . Keyser may be well supported . Yours fiaternally , AMPHIBALUS .
To thc Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — The protest of Bro . T . War . lie , as reported in the Freemason , at the meeting cm the above subject ought to command attention , although it could not be supported by the Committee appointed to carry out the text— "The Restoration of St . Alban ' s Abbey . "
I trust you will allow me space in your columns to express my views , with all due deference to the Committee and their wotthy Secretary . Freemasons of late years have almost kept a silent dignity in such matters , and erred by silence rather than bustle . They have thereby , perhaps , avoided many of the errors and manias of the outer world .
As regards our operative work , surely thc experience connected with our Charities and Institutions can give us wide fields of industry at home , and although it may be urged that it is impossible for us to neglect these , even when busy at work abroad , such as is now proposed , I submit that we ought to tlo thc latter with dignity to the Craft and a thoroughly well considered selection . We
should certainly keep a strong curb upon " restoration " work , or there may be no end of it . I admire the zeal and judgment displayed in soliciting Freemasons to assist in making up the deficiency for the restoration of St . Alban's Abbey , but object to our work being mixed up with the structural parts of the building . When Freemasons , as a botly , become " operative" as
well as " speculative , " I , like Bro . Wardle , woultl rather see them identify themselves with something original . A memorial window , or monument of some kind , to our ancient brethren who built thc Abbey would have been quite enough to identify the spirit of the Freemasons of this century with St . Alban ' s Abbey . Yours fraternally , G . TIDCOMBE , Jus * . Abercorn Lodge , 23 rd Feb .
QUERIES . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Can any of your numerous readers inform me , through your columns , if they know of an institution where an old gentleman ( a Mason ) rendered helpless by a sli ght paralytic stroke coultl be boarded and cared for at a reasonable cost ? By so doing they will greatly oblige , Yours fraternally , M . S .
To thc Editor of lhe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — As the Freemason is looked up to as an authority , will you kindly inform me in your next issue whether or "ot it is the duty of thc Secretary of a lodge before issuing the regular lodge circulars to convey to the W . M . thc postscri for his
pt perusal and confirmation ? Yours fraternally , A MEMBER OF 1389 . l " suppose the brother means " transcript , " and we should say certainly , yes , alike for courtesy ' s sake and Masonic requirements . ]
United Grand Lodge.
UNITED GRAND LODGE .
The following is the business which is to be transacted in Grand Lodge on Wednesday , 5 th March , 1879 : — 1 . Thc regulations for the government of Grand Lodge during the time of public business will be read . 2 . The minutes of thc Quarterly Communication of the 4 th December , 1878 , will be read and put for confirmation .
3 . Election of a M . W . Grand Master . 4 . Election of a Grand Treasurer . 3 . Report of the Lodge of Benevolence for thc last quarter , in which are recommendations for the following grants , viz .: — £ s . d . The five orphans of a brother of the
Clapton Lodge , 1365 , Clapton ... ... 100 o o A brother of the Belvidere Lodge , 503 , Maidstone ... ... ... ... too o o A brother of the Albion Lodge , 9 , London 50 o o A brother of the Barnard Lotlge , 1230 , Barnard Castle ... ... ... 50 o o Thc widow of a brother of the Vitruvian
Lodge , 87 , London ... ... 50 o o A brother of the Lodge of Freedem , 77 , Gravesend ... ... ... 100 o o A brother of the Royal Kent Lodge of Antiquity , 20 , Chatham ... ... 100 o o The widow of a brother of the Royal Athelstan Lodge , 19 , London ... ... too o o
NOTE . —A grant of £ 100 was made to this brother on the 4 th of December , 1878 , which lapsed , in consequence of his death , on the 24 th of December , before confirmation of the grant by Grand Ledge .
The widow of a brother of the Ranelagh Lodge , 834 , London ... ... ... 75 o o A brother ot the Loyal Berkshire Lodge of Hope , * i 74 , Newbury ... ... 75 o o 6 . Report of tbe Board of General Purposes . Tothe United Grand Lodge of Ancient Free antl Accepted
Masons of England . The Board of General Purposes beg to submit a statement of the Grand Lodge accounts , at the meeting of the Finance Committee , held on Friday , the 14 th day of February ult ., shewing a balance in the Bank of England of £ 7828 16 s . id . ; and in the hands ol the Grantl Secretary for petty cash £ 73 , and for servants' wages £ i ) (> 15 s .
( Signed ) Jons Ii . MONCKTON , President . Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C . 18 th February , 1879 . 7 . Report of Bro . R . P . Harding , Auditor of Grand Lodge accounts , of receipts and disbursements during the year 1878 .
8 . Appeal and protest of Bro . George John Ryan , District Grand Senior Warden of the Argentine Republic , against thc action of the District Grand Lodge in repealing some of the bye-laws , against the wishes of the District Grand Master , antl contrary to the provisions of the treaty entered into between the Grand Orient of the Argentine Republic and the Granil Lodge of England , authorising the establishment of a District Grand Lodge at Buenos
Ayres , under the English Constitution . g . Notice of motion by Bro . John M . Clabon , P . G . D ., President of the Lodge of Benevolence . " That the Grand Lodge desire most respectfully to express the deep sympathy which they feel at the loss sustained by Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen , and by His Royal Highness the Most Worshipful Grand Master , and the rest of the Royal Family , by the death of Her Royal Highness the Princess Alice , Grand Duchess of Hesse Darmstadt . "
List Of New Lodges.
LIST OF NEW LODGES .
The following warrants have been granted by the M . W . Grand Master since the last Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge .- — 1793 , Sir Charles Bright Lodge , Teddington . 1794 , De Vere Lodge , Nottingham . 1795 , Combermere Lodge , Albury , New South Wales .
179 6 , Balranald Lodge , Balranald , New South Wales . 1797 , South Down Lodge , Hurstpierpoint , Sussex . 179 8 , Zion Lodge , Manchester . 1799 , Arnold Lodge , Walton-on-Naze , Essex . 1800 , Memorial Lodge , King William ' s Town , South Africa . 1801 , St . George Lotlge , Dargaville , Auckland , New Zealand .
1802 , Vernon Lodge , East Retford , Notts . 1803 , Cornhill Lodge , Lombard-street . 1804 , Coborn Lodge , Bow . 1805 , Bromley St . Leonard ' s Lodge , Bromley , Middlesex . 1806 , Corinthian Lodge of Amoy , Amoy , China . 1807 , Loyal Wye Lodge , Builth , Brcconshirc . 1808 , Suffield Lodge , North Walsham , Norfolk . 1809 , Lodge Fidelis , Guernsey .
Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .
1 he final meeting of the Board of Stewards took place on Monday last , the 24 th ult ., at Freemasons' Hall , amidst a goodly attendance . The accounts were audited and passed , and the usual complimentary votes carried by acclamation , not forgetting a very warm vote of congratulation and
gratitutlc to Bro . Jarres Terry . A balance of £ (>(> was then disposed of . Lpe Governorships were voted , amid much applause , to the Chairman and Treasurer ; £ 3 5 s . each to the clerks in the office j and the balance was offered as a fraternal " honorarium " to Bro . Terry , whose labours hatl been alike remarkable and unceasing . The Board of Stewards was then dissolved .
Consecration Of The Sir Charles Bright Lodge, No. 1793.
CONSECRATION OF THE SIR CHARLES BRIGHT LODGE , No . 1793 .
Another new lodge for the Province of Middlesex was consecrated last Saturday , at the Clarence Hotel , Teddington , by Bros , the R . W . Prov . Grand Master , Col . Burdett , who was assisted by the Deputy Prov . Grand Master , Sir CharlesT . Bright ; H . G . Buss , Asst . Grand Sec ; H . C .
Levander , Prov . Grand Sec . ; the Rev . Ambrose William Hall , M . A ., Chaplain to " Prince of Wales " Lodge , No . 259 , P . M ., Prov . Grand Chaplain and P . P . G . S . W . Surrey , and others . The lodge was formed as follows : —Bros . Col . Burdett , W . M . ; Sir . Charts T . Bright , as Deputy G . M . ; H . C . Levander , S . W . ; H . A . Dubois , P . P . G . D . Middx ., J . W . ;
Rev . Ambrose W . Hall , Chaplain ; H . G . Buss , D . C . ; and J . W . Baldwin , P . P . G . Tyler Middx ., I . G . The lodge room was crowded . The brethren present besides the above were : —Bros . John Hurst , R . W . Forge , John Pilfer , Rev . Ambrose W . HaU , Charles R . Pitt , Sec ; T . C . Walls , H . W . Linton , Charles Stevens , who acted as Org . j Fredk . Brown , T . A . E . Scott , 1656 ; W . D .
Way , 1538 , 1 7 , P . M . ; D . M . Dewar , P . M . 1415 ; Edward Brown , Treas . 168 5 ; Fredk . Chandler , 16 5 6 ; W , H . Bateman , W . M . 12 ; W . J . Buddell , D . C . 12 ; Thos . J . Lamb , J . W . 820 ; Charles Cousin , S . D . 259 ; F . J Hunt , Org . i 6-j 8 ; R . T . Elsam , P . M . 201 , 889 , P . P . G . D . C . Surrey ; Rev . F . J . De Crespigny , P . M . 708 ; John Bond , P . M . 889 ; Charles B . Payne , G . T ., P . M . 27 ;
E . B . Bright , W . M . 778 ; Francis Buckland , "W . M . 1638 , P . M . 325 , 889 ; George Harrison , 1326 ; Alfred Abbott , 1656 ; C . Worthington , 1656 ; Alfred Humphris , 1656 ; Williams Gredies , 1293 ;' , W . E . Fliker , 887 ; S . Hill , 889 ; and H . Massey , P . M . 619 ( Freemason ) . After the lodge had been opened , Colonel Burdett , addressing the brethren , said , they were assembled for the
purpose of consecrating a new lodge , and it gave him great pleasure to assist in forwarding the wishes of its promoters . Hc believed that such a lodge was required in that neighbourhood for the residents of the locality . The town of Teddington was rapidly increasing in size and importance , and the lodge might be made in time a lodge holding a good position in that pait of the county .
It was not always that a lodge could be entirely supported by local residents , and frequently members were brought to it from other parts . It was very essential that a lodge shoultl be supported entirely by the inhabitants of a particular district . He believed that all the promoters of the Sir Charles Bright Lodge were resident in the locality , and he congratulated the brethren on having for their first
W . M . and Wardens , brethren who would do a great deal of good to the Order , and who would be always creditable to the lodge . The Master whom the brethren had selected was not new to his duties , and it was consequently with the greater confidence the government of the lodge was committetl to his bands . Bro . Hurst would be able to rule the lodge in a way
creditable to himself and with much advantage to every one . The Wardens he believed had not had the same experience , but they were capable of performing their duties , and under the presidency of such a Master as Bro . Hurst they would have ample opportunities of attaining proficiency and setting a good example to those brethren who were coming on after them . That was what was wanted .
They wanted junior officers who could perform their duties well , and afford the means of learning to their juniors . It was not absolutely necessary that a lodge , situated as the present lodge ; was , should try to extend its numbers largely . A lodge consisting of a few members was much more manageable and comfortable in itself than those lodges whose members were numerous . If a lodge was
limited in numbers it became the more valuable for a gentleman to seek initiation in , and if that were done with this lodge it would have a very select and agreeable body of members . There had been occasions with which he was acquainted when the admission o { some person to a lodge had been a very unfortunate circumstance for it ; for the brethren must remember that if
a brother obtained admission to a lodge as a member and afterwards became disagreeable' it was a very difficult thing indeed to get ritl of him . He had known casrs where a brother had found himself out of place as a member of a lotlge , and had withdrawn voluntarily . This was a very wise and considerate act ; but there were cases where brethren did not choose to retire ; and , therefore , the
members of a lodge should be doubly careful in their choice . They should look more to ^ quality than quantity , and he trusted the brethren would be careful in framing their bye-laws , an ingredient in a lodge which was highly essential , particularly with reference to the ballot . This question had come before Freemasons very frequently . The ballot was a very serious thine , because what a man
really was should be ascertained before his name was submitted to the test of the ballot . For this purpose it would be far better that the bye-laws should be so framed , that thc ballot for an initiate should be taken at one meeting , and the initiate at the next , otherwise there was a chance of a gentleman being prepared for the ceremony when he was really blackballed , and then he had to be
sent away . This , of course , created a great deal of annoyance , and it was a very awkward position . There were difficulties , no doubt , in the scheme he had suggested , on account of the long time that elapsed between the last meeting of one season and the first meeting of the next ; but still a lodge of emergency , for the purpose of the ballot , might be called before the regular meeting of the
lodge , which would get over the difficulty . To avoid any awkwardness he' recommendetl that if a gentleman was proposed , and a brother found out anything which he considered would not render the candidate acceptable to the lodge , communication should be had with the Secretary , and then , without the name of the brother being divulged , the information would be conveyed to the proposer
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Studies.
names of Mackey , Macoy , Steinbrenner , E . T . Carson , Fort , Clifford P . Macalla , and many others well known to fame in various ways and for various efforts . We rejoice to mention such names , and to note such results . In the next Masonic n / imm % ine will appear a valuable contribution
of Bro . R . F . Gould in respect of the numeration of lodges , as well as a catalogue of Masonic books , by the Editor , both of which will be very valuable to Masonic students . Too much cannot be said for the efforts of those who seek to vivifv and develope
Masonic literature amongst us , and to aid Masonic studies . We hope still to witness a literary revival amongst us , when the laborious efforts of a few faithful and earnest Masonic students will be appreciated and applauded , and brethren will learn to believe at last that a good deal may
be written , and a good deal moreover read with interest about Freemasonry . If the reviler and the scorner tell us we have no Masonic literature , as ignorance likes sometimes to say , we beg to refer all such " obscurantists " to Bro . Fort ' s
" History of the Antiquities of Freemasonry , ' as a work "sui generis , " reall y remarkable " per se , " worthy of any order ; and which deserves , as it has received , careful perusal and friendly acknowledgments from all , whether Masons or non-Masons .
Original Correspondence.
Original Correspondence .
\\\ f . do y-ot hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving of , the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ]
ST . ALBAN'S ABBEY . To thc Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I am very happy to note the Masonic movement to help to restore this noble building . This is most emphatically a Masonic work . 1 trust that Bro . Keyser may be well supported . Yours fiaternally , AMPHIBALUS .
To thc Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — The protest of Bro . T . War . lie , as reported in the Freemason , at the meeting cm the above subject ought to command attention , although it could not be supported by the Committee appointed to carry out the text— "The Restoration of St . Alban ' s Abbey . "
I trust you will allow me space in your columns to express my views , with all due deference to the Committee and their wotthy Secretary . Freemasons of late years have almost kept a silent dignity in such matters , and erred by silence rather than bustle . They have thereby , perhaps , avoided many of the errors and manias of the outer world .
As regards our operative work , surely thc experience connected with our Charities and Institutions can give us wide fields of industry at home , and although it may be urged that it is impossible for us to neglect these , even when busy at work abroad , such as is now proposed , I submit that we ought to tlo thc latter with dignity to the Craft and a thoroughly well considered selection . We
should certainly keep a strong curb upon " restoration " work , or there may be no end of it . I admire the zeal and judgment displayed in soliciting Freemasons to assist in making up the deficiency for the restoration of St . Alban's Abbey , but object to our work being mixed up with the structural parts of the building . When Freemasons , as a botly , become " operative" as
well as " speculative , " I , like Bro . Wardle , woultl rather see them identify themselves with something original . A memorial window , or monument of some kind , to our ancient brethren who built thc Abbey would have been quite enough to identify the spirit of the Freemasons of this century with St . Alban ' s Abbey . Yours fraternally , G . TIDCOMBE , Jus * . Abercorn Lodge , 23 rd Feb .
QUERIES . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Can any of your numerous readers inform me , through your columns , if they know of an institution where an old gentleman ( a Mason ) rendered helpless by a sli ght paralytic stroke coultl be boarded and cared for at a reasonable cost ? By so doing they will greatly oblige , Yours fraternally , M . S .
To thc Editor of lhe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — As the Freemason is looked up to as an authority , will you kindly inform me in your next issue whether or "ot it is the duty of thc Secretary of a lodge before issuing the regular lodge circulars to convey to the W . M . thc postscri for his
pt perusal and confirmation ? Yours fraternally , A MEMBER OF 1389 . l " suppose the brother means " transcript , " and we should say certainly , yes , alike for courtesy ' s sake and Masonic requirements . ]
United Grand Lodge.
UNITED GRAND LODGE .
The following is the business which is to be transacted in Grand Lodge on Wednesday , 5 th March , 1879 : — 1 . Thc regulations for the government of Grand Lodge during the time of public business will be read . 2 . The minutes of thc Quarterly Communication of the 4 th December , 1878 , will be read and put for confirmation .
3 . Election of a M . W . Grand Master . 4 . Election of a Grand Treasurer . 3 . Report of the Lodge of Benevolence for thc last quarter , in which are recommendations for the following grants , viz .: — £ s . d . The five orphans of a brother of the
Clapton Lodge , 1365 , Clapton ... ... 100 o o A brother of the Belvidere Lodge , 503 , Maidstone ... ... ... ... too o o A brother of the Albion Lodge , 9 , London 50 o o A brother of the Barnard Lotlge , 1230 , Barnard Castle ... ... ... 50 o o Thc widow of a brother of the Vitruvian
Lodge , 87 , London ... ... 50 o o A brother of the Lodge of Freedem , 77 , Gravesend ... ... ... 100 o o A brother of the Royal Kent Lodge of Antiquity , 20 , Chatham ... ... 100 o o The widow of a brother of the Royal Athelstan Lodge , 19 , London ... ... too o o
NOTE . —A grant of £ 100 was made to this brother on the 4 th of December , 1878 , which lapsed , in consequence of his death , on the 24 th of December , before confirmation of the grant by Grand Ledge .
The widow of a brother of the Ranelagh Lodge , 834 , London ... ... ... 75 o o A brother ot the Loyal Berkshire Lodge of Hope , * i 74 , Newbury ... ... 75 o o 6 . Report of tbe Board of General Purposes . Tothe United Grand Lodge of Ancient Free antl Accepted
Masons of England . The Board of General Purposes beg to submit a statement of the Grand Lodge accounts , at the meeting of the Finance Committee , held on Friday , the 14 th day of February ult ., shewing a balance in the Bank of England of £ 7828 16 s . id . ; and in the hands ol the Grantl Secretary for petty cash £ 73 , and for servants' wages £ i ) (> 15 s .
( Signed ) Jons Ii . MONCKTON , President . Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C . 18 th February , 1879 . 7 . Report of Bro . R . P . Harding , Auditor of Grand Lodge accounts , of receipts and disbursements during the year 1878 .
8 . Appeal and protest of Bro . George John Ryan , District Grand Senior Warden of the Argentine Republic , against thc action of the District Grand Lodge in repealing some of the bye-laws , against the wishes of the District Grand Master , antl contrary to the provisions of the treaty entered into between the Grand Orient of the Argentine Republic and the Granil Lodge of England , authorising the establishment of a District Grand Lodge at Buenos
Ayres , under the English Constitution . g . Notice of motion by Bro . John M . Clabon , P . G . D ., President of the Lodge of Benevolence . " That the Grand Lodge desire most respectfully to express the deep sympathy which they feel at the loss sustained by Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen , and by His Royal Highness the Most Worshipful Grand Master , and the rest of the Royal Family , by the death of Her Royal Highness the Princess Alice , Grand Duchess of Hesse Darmstadt . "
List Of New Lodges.
LIST OF NEW LODGES .
The following warrants have been granted by the M . W . Grand Master since the last Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge .- — 1793 , Sir Charles Bright Lodge , Teddington . 1794 , De Vere Lodge , Nottingham . 1795 , Combermere Lodge , Albury , New South Wales .
179 6 , Balranald Lodge , Balranald , New South Wales . 1797 , South Down Lodge , Hurstpierpoint , Sussex . 179 8 , Zion Lodge , Manchester . 1799 , Arnold Lodge , Walton-on-Naze , Essex . 1800 , Memorial Lodge , King William ' s Town , South Africa . 1801 , St . George Lotlge , Dargaville , Auckland , New Zealand .
1802 , Vernon Lodge , East Retford , Notts . 1803 , Cornhill Lodge , Lombard-street . 1804 , Coborn Lodge , Bow . 1805 , Bromley St . Leonard ' s Lodge , Bromley , Middlesex . 1806 , Corinthian Lodge of Amoy , Amoy , China . 1807 , Loyal Wye Lodge , Builth , Brcconshirc . 1808 , Suffield Lodge , North Walsham , Norfolk . 1809 , Lodge Fidelis , Guernsey .
Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .
1 he final meeting of the Board of Stewards took place on Monday last , the 24 th ult ., at Freemasons' Hall , amidst a goodly attendance . The accounts were audited and passed , and the usual complimentary votes carried by acclamation , not forgetting a very warm vote of congratulation and
gratitutlc to Bro . Jarres Terry . A balance of £ (>(> was then disposed of . Lpe Governorships were voted , amid much applause , to the Chairman and Treasurer ; £ 3 5 s . each to the clerks in the office j and the balance was offered as a fraternal " honorarium " to Bro . Terry , whose labours hatl been alike remarkable and unceasing . The Board of Stewards was then dissolved .
Consecration Of The Sir Charles Bright Lodge, No. 1793.
CONSECRATION OF THE SIR CHARLES BRIGHT LODGE , No . 1793 .
Another new lodge for the Province of Middlesex was consecrated last Saturday , at the Clarence Hotel , Teddington , by Bros , the R . W . Prov . Grand Master , Col . Burdett , who was assisted by the Deputy Prov . Grand Master , Sir CharlesT . Bright ; H . G . Buss , Asst . Grand Sec ; H . C .
Levander , Prov . Grand Sec . ; the Rev . Ambrose William Hall , M . A ., Chaplain to " Prince of Wales " Lodge , No . 259 , P . M ., Prov . Grand Chaplain and P . P . G . S . W . Surrey , and others . The lodge was formed as follows : —Bros . Col . Burdett , W . M . ; Sir . Charts T . Bright , as Deputy G . M . ; H . C . Levander , S . W . ; H . A . Dubois , P . P . G . D . Middx ., J . W . ;
Rev . Ambrose W . Hall , Chaplain ; H . G . Buss , D . C . ; and J . W . Baldwin , P . P . G . Tyler Middx ., I . G . The lodge room was crowded . The brethren present besides the above were : —Bros . John Hurst , R . W . Forge , John Pilfer , Rev . Ambrose W . HaU , Charles R . Pitt , Sec ; T . C . Walls , H . W . Linton , Charles Stevens , who acted as Org . j Fredk . Brown , T . A . E . Scott , 1656 ; W . D .
Way , 1538 , 1 7 , P . M . ; D . M . Dewar , P . M . 1415 ; Edward Brown , Treas . 168 5 ; Fredk . Chandler , 16 5 6 ; W , H . Bateman , W . M . 12 ; W . J . Buddell , D . C . 12 ; Thos . J . Lamb , J . W . 820 ; Charles Cousin , S . D . 259 ; F . J Hunt , Org . i 6-j 8 ; R . T . Elsam , P . M . 201 , 889 , P . P . G . D . C . Surrey ; Rev . F . J . De Crespigny , P . M . 708 ; John Bond , P . M . 889 ; Charles B . Payne , G . T ., P . M . 27 ;
E . B . Bright , W . M . 778 ; Francis Buckland , "W . M . 1638 , P . M . 325 , 889 ; George Harrison , 1326 ; Alfred Abbott , 1656 ; C . Worthington , 1656 ; Alfred Humphris , 1656 ; Williams Gredies , 1293 ;' , W . E . Fliker , 887 ; S . Hill , 889 ; and H . Massey , P . M . 619 ( Freemason ) . After the lodge had been opened , Colonel Burdett , addressing the brethren , said , they were assembled for the
purpose of consecrating a new lodge , and it gave him great pleasure to assist in forwarding the wishes of its promoters . Hc believed that such a lodge was required in that neighbourhood for the residents of the locality . The town of Teddington was rapidly increasing in size and importance , and the lodge might be made in time a lodge holding a good position in that pait of the county .
It was not always that a lodge could be entirely supported by local residents , and frequently members were brought to it from other parts . It was very essential that a lodge shoultl be supported entirely by the inhabitants of a particular district . He believed that all the promoters of the Sir Charles Bright Lodge were resident in the locality , and he congratulated the brethren on having for their first
W . M . and Wardens , brethren who would do a great deal of good to the Order , and who would be always creditable to the lodge . The Master whom the brethren had selected was not new to his duties , and it was consequently with the greater confidence the government of the lodge was committetl to his bands . Bro . Hurst would be able to rule the lodge in a way
creditable to himself and with much advantage to every one . The Wardens he believed had not had the same experience , but they were capable of performing their duties , and under the presidency of such a Master as Bro . Hurst they would have ample opportunities of attaining proficiency and setting a good example to those brethren who were coming on after them . That was what was wanted .
They wanted junior officers who could perform their duties well , and afford the means of learning to their juniors . It was not absolutely necessary that a lodge , situated as the present lodge ; was , should try to extend its numbers largely . A lodge consisting of a few members was much more manageable and comfortable in itself than those lodges whose members were numerous . If a lodge was
limited in numbers it became the more valuable for a gentleman to seek initiation in , and if that were done with this lodge it would have a very select and agreeable body of members . There had been occasions with which he was acquainted when the admission o { some person to a lodge had been a very unfortunate circumstance for it ; for the brethren must remember that if
a brother obtained admission to a lodge as a member and afterwards became disagreeable' it was a very difficult thing indeed to get ritl of him . He had known casrs where a brother had found himself out of place as a member of a lotlge , and had withdrawn voluntarily . This was a very wise and considerate act ; but there were cases where brethren did not choose to retire ; and , therefore , the
members of a lodge should be doubly careful in their choice . They should look more to ^ quality than quantity , and he trusted the brethren would be careful in framing their bye-laws , an ingredient in a lodge which was highly essential , particularly with reference to the ballot . This question had come before Freemasons very frequently . The ballot was a very serious thine , because what a man
really was should be ascertained before his name was submitted to the test of the ballot . For this purpose it would be far better that the bye-laws should be so framed , that thc ballot for an initiate should be taken at one meeting , and the initiate at the next , otherwise there was a chance of a gentleman being prepared for the ceremony when he was really blackballed , and then he had to be
sent away . This , of course , created a great deal of annoyance , and it was a very awkward position . There were difficulties , no doubt , in the scheme he had suggested , on account of the long time that elapsed between the last meeting of one season and the first meeting of the next ; but still a lodge of emergency , for the purpose of the ballot , might be called before the regular meeting of the
lodge , which would get over the difficulty . To avoid any awkwardness he' recommendetl that if a gentleman was proposed , and a brother found out anything which he considered would not render the candidate acceptable to the lodge , communication should be had with the Secretary , and then , without the name of the brother being divulged , the information would be conveyed to the proposer