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Article CONSECRATION OF NTCHOLSON CHAPTER, No. 371. ← Page 2 of 2 Article GRAND PRIORY OF LANCASHIRE. Page 1 of 1 Article GRAND PRIORY OF LANCASHIRE. Page 1 of 1 Article ST. ALBAN'S CATHEDRAL. Page 1 of 1 Article ST. ALBAN'S CATHEDRAL. Page 1 of 1 Article CONSECRATION OF THE HERVEY LODGE, No. 1788. Page 1 of 2 →
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Consecration Of Ntcholson Chapter, No. 371.
but the brig ht collection of endowments , which go to form civilisation , having no root in itself , could not weather the storms of time and change .. But there is a community which has weathered all these . storms . Taking it . s rise in the earliest ages , founded on the purest principles of piety and virtue , it has pursued an onward course from age to age , a three thousand years' tale , not yet full toltl ; but
there is light all along its course , pointing the pathway to a happier land . Companions , Freemasonry can boast not only a most remote origin , but a most glorious career . Like a golden thread in some texture of beauty , it has run through the varying fabric of human thought , and like , the mighty Nile , it has wound its devious way through many a land , ovetflowing and fertilising
the nations in its couise . Meeting with various forms of relig ious belief antl civil government , it has allied itself to all in proportion as each system was disciplined byorder , practised in virtue , and founded on truth . Ours is indeed , a glorious fabric 1 Founded in strength , ordered by wisdom , and adorned with beauty I Purity of thought , integrity of life , benignity of manner , and , above all ,
charity , are the garments with which every true Royal Arch Mason is invested . It would be easy , companions , to dilate on the teachings of the Three Craft Degrees ; but when we approach what seems to -be the Fourth Degree in Freemasonry—the Holy Royal Arch—our ease disappears . Like the ladder in Jacob ' s dream , the base rests on a solid foundation , the intermediate steps are clear and well
defined ; but thc summit is buried in the clouds ! We naturally pause in the presence of that awful name , around which centres the solemn mysteries of this Supreme Degree , and a voice whispers to one and all of us : — " Draw not nigh hither ; take off thy shoes from off thy feet , tor the place whereon thou standest is Holy Ground . " Let us , then follow the safe and reverential guidance of God ' s
ancient people , the Jews , and the High Priest , when he entered the sanctum sanctorum , to make atonement for the sins of the people . The Essenes , a sect of the Jews , and from whom some think the Royal Arch Degree was derived , were especially cartful on the point of secrecy . They formed themselves into a strict association , bound together by the most solemn obligations , rpending their
substance on their poorer brethren , and avoiding all topics of religious discussion . They advanced by successive degrees , at intervals of a year , and after rcpeateil examinations . On admission , the initiate was adjured to lead a pure and holy life , to guard carefully , and transmit faithfully the secrets of the Order . Let us , then , imitate the reverence by which they were actuated . May it ,
companions , lead us to a proper reverence for the incomprehensible Jehovah , the Ruler of the Universe , the elemental life , the primordial source of all its principles , the veryspring and fountain of all its virtues . Companions , if we have used thc working tools of a Royal Arch Mason aright , if , with thc pickaxe , wc have cleared away the ruins of the temple of a fuller nature ; if , with the trowel ,
we have built up a latter temple for the reception of truth and viitue ; if , with the sword by our side , we have fought for the weak against the strong , the true against thc false , the good against the evil ; if , with the spade , we have buriid the rubbish of the botly of the oltl Adam , then to us , as to our ancient brethren , the sun at its meritlian shall dispel the mists of doubt , ignorance , antl error , antl make
that lig ht to us in death which was dark in life . Then , prostrating ourselves on the mercy of the true antl living God , Most High , we shall be exalted to the Grand Chapter above . Then shall we see Jehovah , not as through a glass darkly , but face to face . The three Principals who assisted the Consecrating Principal were Comps . Hayward , Bowes , and Gardiner ,
and Comp . Lamonby acted as Director of Ceremonies . After thc new chapter had been dedicated and const ! tuted . the three Piincipals designate were installed by M . E Comp , Bowes . Tne ofFcers appointed were as follows : —Comps . J . R Banks , S . E . ; J . H . Banks , S . N . ; A . Walter , P . S . ; R Brown , ist Ass . S . ; E . G . Mitchell , 2 nd Ass . S . ; J
Gardiner , Treas . ; J . Quay , D . C ; P . Dodgson , St . Br . M . E . Comp . Bowes having been thanked for his services , and elected an honoiary member of Nicholson Chapter , propositions of candidates for exaltation and joining members were given , after which the chapter was solemnly closed .
Subsequently the companions partook of a banquet , presided over by M . E . Comp . Nicholson , Z . ; suppirtcdby Comps . Collin , H ., and Mandle , J . An emergency chapter was held the following evening , when Bro . J . II . Raven , Lodge 371 , was exalted by M . E . Comp . Bowes , assisted by M . E . Comp . J . Barr , P . Z . 119 , as I ' . S .
Grand Priory Of Lancashire.
GRAND PRIORY OF LANCASHIRE .
By command of Sir Knight Clement Robert Nuttail Beswicke-Koyds , Grantl Commander of thc County Palatine of Lancaster , the Knights of that division were summoned to attend a Grand Priory of the United Reli gious antl Military Orders of St . John of Jerusalem , Palestine ,
Rhodes , and Malta , at the Guild Hall , Preston , on Wednesday , the 23 rd ult ., to assist in thc transaction of divers urgent and important business in connection with the province of Lancashire . The Prince of Peace Preceptory was opened shortly before one o'clock , and the Prov . Priory vvas subsequently opened by the V . E . G . C ., Sir Kniy ht C . K . N . Beswicke-Royds .
The Hcgisiiar called over the muster roll of P . G . Officers and of the prioiies in the province ; letters of apology from absent officers were acknowledged ; and the minutes of the I ' rov . Grand Conclave , holden at Southport on the 181 I 1 day of M-iy , 18 7 8 , were submitted antl confirmed . The appointment and investiture of the Provincial Officers were subsequently proceeded with , but , unfortunately , we are unable to give these , owing to the singular action
Grand Priory Of Lancashire.
of the Grantl Commander cf the province . Our representative asked for the courtesy usually extended to him by thc heads of the various M ; sonic bodies to be allowed to copy the list of appointments , bat tills privilege was refused without any valit' reason being assigned . Under these circumstances it is impossible to give information which must have proved interesting to tur numerous readers in Lancashire . The assembled Knights banqueted afler business .
St. Alban's Cathedral.
ST . ALBAN'S CATHEDRAL .
We have been requested lo publish the following appeal , which we do with much pleasure , thoroughly approving cf the object : — "Thc proposed restoration of the West Front ofthe Cathedral Church of St . Alban ' s by the Freemasons of England , under the patronage of H . R . H . the Prince of
Wales , K . G ., M . W . G . M . ; H . R . H . Piince Leopold , K . G ., P . G . M . Oxfordshire ; Lord Skelmersdale , D . G . M ., P . G . M . West Lancashire ; His Grace the Duke of Manchester , P . G . M . Hunts antl Northants ; Earl Ferrers , P . G . M . Leicestershire and Rutlandshire ; Eail of Zetland , P . G . M . North and East Yorkshire ; Viscount Holmesdale , M . I ' ., P . G . M . Kent ; Lord Leigh , P . G . M . Warwickshire ; Lord
Methuen , P . G . M . Wiltshire ; Lord Sherborne , P . G . M . Gloucestershire ; Lord De Tabley , P . G . M . Cheshire ; Lord Suffield , P . G . M . Norfolk ; Lord Henniker , S . G . W . ; Sir W . W . Burrell , Bart ., M . I ' ., P . G . M . Sussex ; W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., P . G . M . Haisipshiie and Isle of Wight ; Gen . J . Studholme Brownrigg , C . B ., P . G . M . Surrey ; Lt .-Col . F . Burdett , P . G . M . Middlesex ; Col . E . C . Malet
De Carteret , P . G . M . Jersey ; John Fawcett , P . G . M . Durham ; Montague Guest , P . G . M . Dorsetshire ; T . F . Halsey , M . P ., P . G . M . Hertfoidshire ; Major W . H . Smyth , P . G . M . Lincolnshire ; Lt .-Col . Le Gendre N . Starkie , P . G . M . East Lancashire . " On Feb . 1 ith , 1879 , a meeting was held atthe Freemasons' Tavern , to consider a proposal that the
Freemasons of England do undertake the restoration of some special portion of St . Alban's Cathedral as a memorial to St . Alban . A proposal to Ill's effect had originated with the Hertford Lodge , No . 403 , f . nd has since been brought forward at the Provincial Grand Lodj » e of Hertfordshire , held at Watford , ou July 261 I 1 , iS ; 8 , and thc scheme approved , antl a local Committee appointetl to endeavour
to carry out the undertaking . "At thc meeting < f i- ' eb . nth , 1879 , after a full explanation as to the nature of the proposal , it was unanimously nsolved that the Freemasons if England be invited to subscribe towards thc restoration of some special portion of the Cathedral , and a Central Committee vvas thereupon appointed , with power to atld to their number , to carry out
this object . It was fuither decided to undertake the restoration o , the West Front t f the Cathedral , or , in the event of the funds not being sufficient to carry out the whole scheme , one or more of the three beautiful but sadly dilapidatetl porches at the west end tf the building . " These porches may justly be considered not only to exhibit the most beautiful architectural details of this
grand Cathedral , out from the extreme delicacy and beauty of their design , they cannot be excelled by any other examples ol this or any other date throughout the kingdom . They were built by Abbot John de Cella , at the commencement of the 13 th century , and foimed part of a magnificent design fir the reconstruction of the nave of the Abbey Church , which from want of tbe nicessary
funds was only partially carried out . The style of architecture is that ce mmonly known as " Early English " or " First Pointed , " and may well compare with similar examples to be found at Lincoln , Ely , Salisbury , and Wells Cathedrals , the Western or Galilee Porch of Ely Cathedral bearing a specisl resemblance to the central porch at St . Alban's .
" It is this central western porch which the Committee propose first to undertake , and their proposal has been most stcongly approved by the executive Committee for thc restoration of the Cathedral , who are specially anxious to see this portion of the woik taken in hand , as this will form the completion of the main structural repairs , which have been going on for several years . A rough estimate
was prepared by the late Sir Gilbert Scott , shortly before his death , which states that the probable cost for the restoration of the central porch would be £ 2500 , and for each of the side porches £ 2000 , or for the entire west front ^( joco . These sums appear at first sight very large , but very much will have to be done on account of the decayed and mutilated condition of thc stone work . There
can be 1 . 0 question as to the improvement which will be effcctetl by the . careful restoration ol the west front . At some period , probably in tilt iOth or 17 th century , some economical repairs were carrietl out . The outer portions of the north and south porches were cut away , and a plain and unsightly wall built up , which has entirely concealed the north anil south porches , antl the e . ul y English
arcade on each si . ' e of tlietu . " It must , ive think , he acknowledged that thc Abbey Church of St . Alban ' s has a special interest for , as well as a special claim on the consideration of , all English Freemasons . The oiiginal church , built b y King Offa in the Sth century , antl of which portions remain , was erected by him , and , as wc are tol '' , the " llt / nd Masons , " to thc memory o [ St . Alban . Without assorting feir Freemasonry
a positive connection with St . Alban , ii is nevertheless an undoubted fact that all the operative Guild lcgcnris from the 15 th century claim Alban as a patron of Freemasons , and as the person who procured a charter for the assembly , and settled the amount of Masons' wages . This statement probably refers to the fact , that he was in some way officially connected with one of the operative Guilds or 1 Collegia Falrorum , ' from which the Guilds clearly came . The earliest mention of St . Alban in connection with Ma-
St. Alban's Cathedral.
sonry is to be found in the Prose Constitutions , among the additional MSS . of the British Museum of date ia 2-There we read at line 605 : — 'And Saint Alban loved we ' ll Masons , and he gave them first their charges and man . ners fir .-t in England , and he ordained convenient times to pay for the travail . ' " I his statement is repeated and amplified in numerous
other Guild legends , such as the two Harluan MSS ., the two Sloane , the three York , the Scottish MSS ., the Lod ge of Hope and the Alnwick MS . In the Lansdowne MS . A . D . 1560 , we find these words * . — ' St . Alban was a worth y knight and steward of thc king , his houiehold , and had government of his realm , anil also of the making of the walls ol the said town , and he loved well Masons , and
cherished them much , and made their pay right good for he gave them 3 and vid . a week and iiid . ; befoie that time all the land a Mason took but one penny a day and his meat , till St . Alban mended it , and he gave them a charter ot the king and his " councell , " for to hold a general assembly , and gave it to name assembly . ' "In the Antiquity MS . of date 1 O 86 , we find this
further statement in addition to the above : — ' And he gott them a charter from the king and his " counsell , " to hold a general " counsell , " and gave itt to name " assemblie , " thereat he vvas himself , aud ditl help to make Masons , and gave them charges as you shall heare afterwards . ' " In ' Krause's ' so-called York MS ., of date the beginning of this century ( but of which it is fair to remark the
original is so far unknown ) , we find this statement , amplified somewhat in these words : — 'He , "that is St . Alban , " made constitutions and charges for the Masons , and taught them the customs , everything as Amphibalus had taught him . He procured for them also good pay , for he gave to the workmen two shillings per week and three pence for their food , while formerly they had onl y
one penny and their food . He also obtained a charter from the Emperor Carausius according to which the workmen in the whole of Britain were made into a society by themselves , and were placed under the architects , which had net been the case before , as each individual had taken work where he found it to do . St . Alban belonged to this society himself , helped to admit new workmen , and took
care that they had always plenty of work , and he was the first to tlo this in Britain . ' With this unvarying tradition then before us , it seems most reasonable that the Freemasons of to-day , remembering their own Guild legends , will be glad to co-operate in the present seasonable and needful effort to restore that noble memorial of the pious labours of the past , which so appeals to our sympathies as patriots ,
lovers of architecture , and as Freemasons . "Is it too much to hope that the present scheme will commend itself to the Freemasons of England , as it has to those of Hertfoidshire , as weli as to our Koyal Grand Master and the Central Committee in London , and that our numerous and generous brotherhood vvill gladly embrace the opportunity of aitiing to restore the goodly fabric of
St . Alban ' s Cathedral , and thus , as speculative Masons , identify themselves with those famous operative sodalities vvliich have left such striking witnesses nf their devotion tn art and religion in these gl . rious ' Houses of God in our land , ' which , like that at St . Alban ' s , remain to attest the good and kindly ' art of Masonrye . '' " To carry out this object , subscriptions are invited from
the entire Craft , 111 such amounts as the brethren may be disposed to give , the maximum donation of each individual brother being limited to £ 3 . Payments may be made either to the London and County Bank , Head Oflice , Lombard-street , E . G ., or to the Branch at St . Alban's ; or direct to thc Hon . Secretary , Bro . C . E . Keyser , by whom formal re .-eipts for all contiibutions vvill be given . "
Consecration Of The Hervey Lodge, No. 1788.
CONSECRATION OF THE HERVEY LODGE , No . 1788 .
This new lodge was duly consecrated on the Sth of March at Mount Moriah , Port of **> pain , Trinidad , by W . Bro . Cook , P . D . D . G . M ., & c . The brethren having entered the lodge-room , Bro . Cook took the chair , and the Wardens were nominated . W . Bro . C . H . Phillips , "W . M . 405 ,
P . D . G . S . W ., & c ., officiated as Secretary . The othet worshipful brethren taking part in the ceremonial were Bros . M . R . Marquez , I ' . M . 368 , and representative , by patent of appointment , of lodges in the Republic of Venezuela , assisted by J . II . Rat , W . M . 911 ; J . D . Gillezcan , P . M . ; L . E . Des Roses , P . M . ^ 08 ; L . J . Alcazar , VV . M . 3 68 .
After the lodge had been duly opened in the Three Degrees , prayer was offered , and the Presiding Officer , in a brief address , stated the nature of the meeting . The warrant constituting the new lodge vvas read by W . Bro . Phillips , and the brethren having signified their approval of the oflicers named in the warrant , Bro . Phillips then elelivered an oration on the excellences of the Craf j
The ceremony of the consecration was abl y and impressively done . The lodge having been resumed in the Second Degree , Bro . W . R . I ' rizgar , S . W . 405 , (' . D . G . Treas ., the W . M . designate , a brother well able to propagate the general principles of the institution with zeal and ability , vvas duly installed as the first Master of thc Hervey Lotlge , this
sublime ceremony being rendered with astonishing solemnity antl effect . Thc W . M . then invested his officers as follows : —W , Bros . C . II . Phillips , H . W . ; J . H . Rat , J . VV . ; J . D . Gillezean , Sec . —these three exalted hr . thren ( who are already up the ladder of F ' reernasinry ) most willingly consented for the
success eif the new lotlge to fill the i . flices to which they were appointed ; Bros . P . A . Francis , Treas . ; H . W . Armstrong , S . O . ; C . B . Clement , J . D . ; A . B . Warner , I . G . ; and J . Matthews , Tyler . The names of brethren who were ready to become joining members were given to the Secretary , and their app lications read .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Consecration Of Ntcholson Chapter, No. 371.
but the brig ht collection of endowments , which go to form civilisation , having no root in itself , could not weather the storms of time and change .. But there is a community which has weathered all these . storms . Taking it . s rise in the earliest ages , founded on the purest principles of piety and virtue , it has pursued an onward course from age to age , a three thousand years' tale , not yet full toltl ; but
there is light all along its course , pointing the pathway to a happier land . Companions , Freemasonry can boast not only a most remote origin , but a most glorious career . Like a golden thread in some texture of beauty , it has run through the varying fabric of human thought , and like , the mighty Nile , it has wound its devious way through many a land , ovetflowing and fertilising
the nations in its couise . Meeting with various forms of relig ious belief antl civil government , it has allied itself to all in proportion as each system was disciplined byorder , practised in virtue , and founded on truth . Ours is indeed , a glorious fabric 1 Founded in strength , ordered by wisdom , and adorned with beauty I Purity of thought , integrity of life , benignity of manner , and , above all ,
charity , are the garments with which every true Royal Arch Mason is invested . It would be easy , companions , to dilate on the teachings of the Three Craft Degrees ; but when we approach what seems to -be the Fourth Degree in Freemasonry—the Holy Royal Arch—our ease disappears . Like the ladder in Jacob ' s dream , the base rests on a solid foundation , the intermediate steps are clear and well
defined ; but thc summit is buried in the clouds ! We naturally pause in the presence of that awful name , around which centres the solemn mysteries of this Supreme Degree , and a voice whispers to one and all of us : — " Draw not nigh hither ; take off thy shoes from off thy feet , tor the place whereon thou standest is Holy Ground . " Let us , then follow the safe and reverential guidance of God ' s
ancient people , the Jews , and the High Priest , when he entered the sanctum sanctorum , to make atonement for the sins of the people . The Essenes , a sect of the Jews , and from whom some think the Royal Arch Degree was derived , were especially cartful on the point of secrecy . They formed themselves into a strict association , bound together by the most solemn obligations , rpending their
substance on their poorer brethren , and avoiding all topics of religious discussion . They advanced by successive degrees , at intervals of a year , and after rcpeateil examinations . On admission , the initiate was adjured to lead a pure and holy life , to guard carefully , and transmit faithfully the secrets of the Order . Let us , then , imitate the reverence by which they were actuated . May it ,
companions , lead us to a proper reverence for the incomprehensible Jehovah , the Ruler of the Universe , the elemental life , the primordial source of all its principles , the veryspring and fountain of all its virtues . Companions , if we have used thc working tools of a Royal Arch Mason aright , if , with thc pickaxe , wc have cleared away the ruins of the temple of a fuller nature ; if , with the trowel ,
we have built up a latter temple for the reception of truth and viitue ; if , with the sword by our side , we have fought for the weak against the strong , the true against thc false , the good against the evil ; if , with the spade , we have buriid the rubbish of the botly of the oltl Adam , then to us , as to our ancient brethren , the sun at its meritlian shall dispel the mists of doubt , ignorance , antl error , antl make
that lig ht to us in death which was dark in life . Then , prostrating ourselves on the mercy of the true antl living God , Most High , we shall be exalted to the Grand Chapter above . Then shall we see Jehovah , not as through a glass darkly , but face to face . The three Principals who assisted the Consecrating Principal were Comps . Hayward , Bowes , and Gardiner ,
and Comp . Lamonby acted as Director of Ceremonies . After thc new chapter had been dedicated and const ! tuted . the three Piincipals designate were installed by M . E Comp , Bowes . Tne ofFcers appointed were as follows : —Comps . J . R Banks , S . E . ; J . H . Banks , S . N . ; A . Walter , P . S . ; R Brown , ist Ass . S . ; E . G . Mitchell , 2 nd Ass . S . ; J
Gardiner , Treas . ; J . Quay , D . C ; P . Dodgson , St . Br . M . E . Comp . Bowes having been thanked for his services , and elected an honoiary member of Nicholson Chapter , propositions of candidates for exaltation and joining members were given , after which the chapter was solemnly closed .
Subsequently the companions partook of a banquet , presided over by M . E . Comp . Nicholson , Z . ; suppirtcdby Comps . Collin , H ., and Mandle , J . An emergency chapter was held the following evening , when Bro . J . II . Raven , Lodge 371 , was exalted by M . E . Comp . Bowes , assisted by M . E . Comp . J . Barr , P . Z . 119 , as I ' . S .
Grand Priory Of Lancashire.
GRAND PRIORY OF LANCASHIRE .
By command of Sir Knight Clement Robert Nuttail Beswicke-Koyds , Grantl Commander of thc County Palatine of Lancaster , the Knights of that division were summoned to attend a Grand Priory of the United Reli gious antl Military Orders of St . John of Jerusalem , Palestine ,
Rhodes , and Malta , at the Guild Hall , Preston , on Wednesday , the 23 rd ult ., to assist in thc transaction of divers urgent and important business in connection with the province of Lancashire . The Prince of Peace Preceptory was opened shortly before one o'clock , and the Prov . Priory vvas subsequently opened by the V . E . G . C ., Sir Kniy ht C . K . N . Beswicke-Royds .
The Hcgisiiar called over the muster roll of P . G . Officers and of the prioiies in the province ; letters of apology from absent officers were acknowledged ; and the minutes of the I ' rov . Grand Conclave , holden at Southport on the 181 I 1 day of M-iy , 18 7 8 , were submitted antl confirmed . The appointment and investiture of the Provincial Officers were subsequently proceeded with , but , unfortunately , we are unable to give these , owing to the singular action
Grand Priory Of Lancashire.
of the Grantl Commander cf the province . Our representative asked for the courtesy usually extended to him by thc heads of the various M ; sonic bodies to be allowed to copy the list of appointments , bat tills privilege was refused without any valit' reason being assigned . Under these circumstances it is impossible to give information which must have proved interesting to tur numerous readers in Lancashire . The assembled Knights banqueted afler business .
St. Alban's Cathedral.
ST . ALBAN'S CATHEDRAL .
We have been requested lo publish the following appeal , which we do with much pleasure , thoroughly approving cf the object : — "Thc proposed restoration of the West Front ofthe Cathedral Church of St . Alban ' s by the Freemasons of England , under the patronage of H . R . H . the Prince of
Wales , K . G ., M . W . G . M . ; H . R . H . Piince Leopold , K . G ., P . G . M . Oxfordshire ; Lord Skelmersdale , D . G . M ., P . G . M . West Lancashire ; His Grace the Duke of Manchester , P . G . M . Hunts antl Northants ; Earl Ferrers , P . G . M . Leicestershire and Rutlandshire ; Eail of Zetland , P . G . M . North and East Yorkshire ; Viscount Holmesdale , M . I ' ., P . G . M . Kent ; Lord Leigh , P . G . M . Warwickshire ; Lord
Methuen , P . G . M . Wiltshire ; Lord Sherborne , P . G . M . Gloucestershire ; Lord De Tabley , P . G . M . Cheshire ; Lord Suffield , P . G . M . Norfolk ; Lord Henniker , S . G . W . ; Sir W . W . Burrell , Bart ., M . I ' ., P . G . M . Sussex ; W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., P . G . M . Haisipshiie and Isle of Wight ; Gen . J . Studholme Brownrigg , C . B ., P . G . M . Surrey ; Lt .-Col . F . Burdett , P . G . M . Middlesex ; Col . E . C . Malet
De Carteret , P . G . M . Jersey ; John Fawcett , P . G . M . Durham ; Montague Guest , P . G . M . Dorsetshire ; T . F . Halsey , M . P ., P . G . M . Hertfoidshire ; Major W . H . Smyth , P . G . M . Lincolnshire ; Lt .-Col . Le Gendre N . Starkie , P . G . M . East Lancashire . " On Feb . 1 ith , 1879 , a meeting was held atthe Freemasons' Tavern , to consider a proposal that the
Freemasons of England do undertake the restoration of some special portion of St . Alban's Cathedral as a memorial to St . Alban . A proposal to Ill's effect had originated with the Hertford Lodge , No . 403 , f . nd has since been brought forward at the Provincial Grand Lodj » e of Hertfordshire , held at Watford , ou July 261 I 1 , iS ; 8 , and thc scheme approved , antl a local Committee appointetl to endeavour
to carry out the undertaking . "At thc meeting < f i- ' eb . nth , 1879 , after a full explanation as to the nature of the proposal , it was unanimously nsolved that the Freemasons if England be invited to subscribe towards thc restoration of some special portion of the Cathedral , and a Central Committee vvas thereupon appointed , with power to atld to their number , to carry out
this object . It was fuither decided to undertake the restoration o , the West Front t f the Cathedral , or , in the event of the funds not being sufficient to carry out the whole scheme , one or more of the three beautiful but sadly dilapidatetl porches at the west end tf the building . " These porches may justly be considered not only to exhibit the most beautiful architectural details of this
grand Cathedral , out from the extreme delicacy and beauty of their design , they cannot be excelled by any other examples ol this or any other date throughout the kingdom . They were built by Abbot John de Cella , at the commencement of the 13 th century , and foimed part of a magnificent design fir the reconstruction of the nave of the Abbey Church , which from want of tbe nicessary
funds was only partially carried out . The style of architecture is that ce mmonly known as " Early English " or " First Pointed , " and may well compare with similar examples to be found at Lincoln , Ely , Salisbury , and Wells Cathedrals , the Western or Galilee Porch of Ely Cathedral bearing a specisl resemblance to the central porch at St . Alban's .
" It is this central western porch which the Committee propose first to undertake , and their proposal has been most stcongly approved by the executive Committee for thc restoration of the Cathedral , who are specially anxious to see this portion of the woik taken in hand , as this will form the completion of the main structural repairs , which have been going on for several years . A rough estimate
was prepared by the late Sir Gilbert Scott , shortly before his death , which states that the probable cost for the restoration of the central porch would be £ 2500 , and for each of the side porches £ 2000 , or for the entire west front ^( joco . These sums appear at first sight very large , but very much will have to be done on account of the decayed and mutilated condition of thc stone work . There
can be 1 . 0 question as to the improvement which will be effcctetl by the . careful restoration ol the west front . At some period , probably in tilt iOth or 17 th century , some economical repairs were carrietl out . The outer portions of the north and south porches were cut away , and a plain and unsightly wall built up , which has entirely concealed the north anil south porches , antl the e . ul y English
arcade on each si . ' e of tlietu . " It must , ive think , he acknowledged that thc Abbey Church of St . Alban ' s has a special interest for , as well as a special claim on the consideration of , all English Freemasons . The oiiginal church , built b y King Offa in the Sth century , antl of which portions remain , was erected by him , and , as wc are tol '' , the " llt / nd Masons , " to thc memory o [ St . Alban . Without assorting feir Freemasonry
a positive connection with St . Alban , ii is nevertheless an undoubted fact that all the operative Guild lcgcnris from the 15 th century claim Alban as a patron of Freemasons , and as the person who procured a charter for the assembly , and settled the amount of Masons' wages . This statement probably refers to the fact , that he was in some way officially connected with one of the operative Guilds or 1 Collegia Falrorum , ' from which the Guilds clearly came . The earliest mention of St . Alban in connection with Ma-
St. Alban's Cathedral.
sonry is to be found in the Prose Constitutions , among the additional MSS . of the British Museum of date ia 2-There we read at line 605 : — 'And Saint Alban loved we ' ll Masons , and he gave them first their charges and man . ners fir .-t in England , and he ordained convenient times to pay for the travail . ' " I his statement is repeated and amplified in numerous
other Guild legends , such as the two Harluan MSS ., the two Sloane , the three York , the Scottish MSS ., the Lod ge of Hope and the Alnwick MS . In the Lansdowne MS . A . D . 1560 , we find these words * . — ' St . Alban was a worth y knight and steward of thc king , his houiehold , and had government of his realm , anil also of the making of the walls ol the said town , and he loved well Masons , and
cherished them much , and made their pay right good for he gave them 3 and vid . a week and iiid . ; befoie that time all the land a Mason took but one penny a day and his meat , till St . Alban mended it , and he gave them a charter ot the king and his " councell , " for to hold a general assembly , and gave it to name assembly . ' "In the Antiquity MS . of date 1 O 86 , we find this
further statement in addition to the above : — ' And he gott them a charter from the king and his " counsell , " to hold a general " counsell , " and gave itt to name " assemblie , " thereat he vvas himself , aud ditl help to make Masons , and gave them charges as you shall heare afterwards . ' " In ' Krause's ' so-called York MS ., of date the beginning of this century ( but of which it is fair to remark the
original is so far unknown ) , we find this statement , amplified somewhat in these words : — 'He , "that is St . Alban , " made constitutions and charges for the Masons , and taught them the customs , everything as Amphibalus had taught him . He procured for them also good pay , for he gave to the workmen two shillings per week and three pence for their food , while formerly they had onl y
one penny and their food . He also obtained a charter from the Emperor Carausius according to which the workmen in the whole of Britain were made into a society by themselves , and were placed under the architects , which had net been the case before , as each individual had taken work where he found it to do . St . Alban belonged to this society himself , helped to admit new workmen , and took
care that they had always plenty of work , and he was the first to tlo this in Britain . ' With this unvarying tradition then before us , it seems most reasonable that the Freemasons of to-day , remembering their own Guild legends , will be glad to co-operate in the present seasonable and needful effort to restore that noble memorial of the pious labours of the past , which so appeals to our sympathies as patriots ,
lovers of architecture , and as Freemasons . "Is it too much to hope that the present scheme will commend itself to the Freemasons of England , as it has to those of Hertfoidshire , as weli as to our Koyal Grand Master and the Central Committee in London , and that our numerous and generous brotherhood vvill gladly embrace the opportunity of aitiing to restore the goodly fabric of
St . Alban ' s Cathedral , and thus , as speculative Masons , identify themselves with those famous operative sodalities vvliich have left such striking witnesses nf their devotion tn art and religion in these gl . rious ' Houses of God in our land , ' which , like that at St . Alban ' s , remain to attest the good and kindly ' art of Masonrye . '' " To carry out this object , subscriptions are invited from
the entire Craft , 111 such amounts as the brethren may be disposed to give , the maximum donation of each individual brother being limited to £ 3 . Payments may be made either to the London and County Bank , Head Oflice , Lombard-street , E . G ., or to the Branch at St . Alban's ; or direct to thc Hon . Secretary , Bro . C . E . Keyser , by whom formal re .-eipts for all contiibutions vvill be given . "
Consecration Of The Hervey Lodge, No. 1788.
CONSECRATION OF THE HERVEY LODGE , No . 1788 .
This new lodge was duly consecrated on the Sth of March at Mount Moriah , Port of **> pain , Trinidad , by W . Bro . Cook , P . D . D . G . M ., & c . The brethren having entered the lodge-room , Bro . Cook took the chair , and the Wardens were nominated . W . Bro . C . H . Phillips , "W . M . 405 ,
P . D . G . S . W ., & c ., officiated as Secretary . The othet worshipful brethren taking part in the ceremonial were Bros . M . R . Marquez , I ' . M . 368 , and representative , by patent of appointment , of lodges in the Republic of Venezuela , assisted by J . II . Rat , W . M . 911 ; J . D . Gillezcan , P . M . ; L . E . Des Roses , P . M . ^ 08 ; L . J . Alcazar , VV . M . 3 68 .
After the lodge had been duly opened in the Three Degrees , prayer was offered , and the Presiding Officer , in a brief address , stated the nature of the meeting . The warrant constituting the new lodge vvas read by W . Bro . Phillips , and the brethren having signified their approval of the oflicers named in the warrant , Bro . Phillips then elelivered an oration on the excellences of the Craf j
The ceremony of the consecration was abl y and impressively done . The lodge having been resumed in the Second Degree , Bro . W . R . I ' rizgar , S . W . 405 , (' . D . G . Treas ., the W . M . designate , a brother well able to propagate the general principles of the institution with zeal and ability , vvas duly installed as the first Master of thc Hervey Lotlge , this
sublime ceremony being rendered with astonishing solemnity antl effect . Thc W . M . then invested his officers as follows : —W , Bros . C . II . Phillips , H . W . ; J . H . Rat , J . VV . ; J . D . Gillezean , Sec . —these three exalted hr . thren ( who are already up the ladder of F ' reernasinry ) most willingly consented for the
success eif the new lotlge to fill the i . flices to which they were appointed ; Bros . P . A . Francis , Treas . ; H . W . Armstrong , S . O . ; C . B . Clement , J . D . ; A . B . Warner , I . G . ; and J . Matthews , Tyler . The names of brethren who were ready to become joining members were given to the Secretary , and their app lications read .