Consecration Of The Scots Lodge, No. 2319.

Rro . E . LETCHWORTH , P . G . D ., said that , having been already the subject of one ¦ ist he was not prepared for the great honourthe W . M . had clone him in associat-• a his name with the toast of " The Visitors ; " but as their very unworthy mouth" ' ece would they allow him to express their appreciation of the very kind manner P w ] , ich the W . M . had introduced the toast , as well as for the splendid hospitality tint had been extended to the visitors by the Scots Lodge . He could not but feel

that it was a happy coincidence that the establishment of this lodge should have tiken place on the day when the Prov . G . Master of one of the most important rovinces of Scotland had been allied in marriage to a daughter of the Heir Apparent to the throne , and he felt sure he was expressing the feelings of all those vho had been honoured by an invitation to the consecration of the Scots Lodge when he expressed the earnest hope that this lodge , which had been

founded under such splendid auspices , might become , as he felt sure it would become under the rule of Lord Euston , its first Master , one of the most important lodges in the Craft . Bro . FENWICK , Dist . G . Sec . Queensland , said , in attempting to respond on behalf of " The Visitors " he was afraid he was doing so under considerable disadvantage . This was his first visit to a lod g ~ in England after an absence of 35

vears in Australia , and he felt after his long sojourn in that sunny land that coming to a climate like England , however much they mig ht boast of it , it did not quite agree with his chest and throat , and , therefore , they must excuse him if he did not say all that he would like to say . However , he had to thank , very sincerely , the brethren for the honour they had done him in connecting his name with the toast of the visitors . He was not exactly representing Queensland , but , as

District G . Sec . of that colony for the last 20 years , he might call himself a representative of the English Constitution in Queensland . There they had unfortunately , working side by side three Constitutions , the English , the Scottish , and the Irish , and although they worked in perfect amity and fraternal feeling together , he regretted very much to say that there was a feeling among two of the Constitutions particularly of separating and forming a Grand

Lodge of Queensland . The Worshipful Master , Bro . the Earl of Euston , had said something to the effect that they would welcome new Colonial Grand Lodges . It was right , perhaps , where there was unanimity of feeling in the Colonies ; right where there was a large majority in favour of separating from the parent stock and forming a Grand Lodge . They might be justified in welcoming another Grand Lodge , and allowing them to separate ; but he could assure

them there was no such feeling in Queensland ; the majority of lodges in Queensland were in favour of the old banner ; there were 31 under the English Constitution and under the two other Constitutions there were 28 or 29 ; but even among them there were very many brethren who would still maintain the old flag . Another matter in connection with his visit to the Scots Lodge was that it was a very great pleasure for him to be there ; it was one of those things he had looked forward to

ior years to see the ceremony of consecration performed by Officers of Grand Lodge of England , and now it was realised . He knew the names of many of the members now present by the press , by the Freemason , and by the reports , but it had been as myths , and not as meeting them face to face and seeing them . They were flesh and blood , perhaps , but evidently of a superior clay . Hitherto , in connection ' with the ceremonies of consecration and installation , he had

been a principal actor , but now he was a hearer and a learner , and the lessons would bear fruit in Queensland . He was exceedingly happy to be present at the inauguration of this new Scots Lodge ; he thought it had every prospect of a brilliant future , He was sure there was sufficient esprit de corps , or esprit tie pays in the brethren to keep them together . He hoped it would be one of the most prosperous lodges in London . He was sure he was only speaking on behalf of the Masons of Queensland when he wished the lodge every prosperity , and that

the brethren would realise all their wishes in that respect . He was particularl y deli ghted to see the Grand Secretary , Bro . Colonel Shadwell Clerke , and to hear and see the impressive way in which he performed the ceremony . He had also had the pleasure of seeing again Bro . Frank Richardson , whom he met in Victoria two or three years ago , and of seeing him working as an expert in these ceremonies . The other brethren he had never met before , but still it was a great pleasure to have met them now . On behalf of Queensland he returned his thanks .

Bro . IILDEN , U . S . A ., in replying , said he lelt this was the most extraordinary honour that had ever been conferred upon him . He came among the brethren that ni ght absolutely without any progress whatever in Masonry . It was < true he had taken honorary Degrees in Masonry . He did not feel that being called upon to reply was intended to be an honour to him personally , but to him as respresenting the great cordial and fraternal feeling towards an outer fraternal feeling , not only as a

man , because it had been his great privilege , while among Englishmen , to have experienced the greatest cordiality from a brother outside Freemasonry , but here , this evening , he felt it to be entirely different . He came among them as a brother , and was received as a brother , and if they would allow him to present himself as a self-appointed delegate from America , he would say he wished this lod ge inaugurated in that way a most hearty God-speed . He was perfectly assured

'hat if there were sufficient Americans in London to form an American lodge as there were Scotsmen to form a Scots Lodge , the Grand Officers of Grand Lodge would be no less read y to attend and consecrate an American lodge , and feeling as 'ic did , he was sure that America presented her freest and best good wishes . He was of opinion that in a case of emergency they would find the brethren on the other side of the Atlantic what they had been said to be . It was the feeling throughout

America to-day ; the travel , the interchange of sentiments , the visits Americans made to England , and the visits Englishmen and Scotchmen made to America , created the hearty good feeling and fellowship which were felt throughout America . And there was something in the English language which bound them together if nothing else would , and if there came a time when anything which involved i nternational considerations arose , the English-speaking people would be found together . In the name of the visitors , he thanked the brethren on behalf of America .

I he Earl of EUSTON , in proposing the toast of "The Officers of the Lodge , " s . '" ' ° st of the officers were founders of the lodge who so generousl y and kindl y "' d him the great honour to select him for the first W . M . " He hoped that he sl 'ould not onl y be their Master for the year , but that before his year of office was nt he should be most intimately acquainted with them . He wished again to express to them his sense of the great honour they had done him bselecting him - ¦ iiu uunjo ui nil 1 vui uuiiuui iiiw 111111 jvii ^ iiiic 111111

y r , e nuu uunv u y .. Z tlle ' Master . He must say that if a Master did not get on well with his jeers , it was the same as if an officer in the army or navy did not get on with his ,, " *^ i and they could not expect affairs to go on smoothly in that state of things , c nop ,., ! that jn tile position he was now placed he would have the support which ¦ lould be iven to bodwho was at the head of affairsHe did not want to

g every y . iff C "** w * " * " a ro ^ ° ^ ' » k "' - ' y w'anted to rule them with brotherly love and f ni "' -h should always reign in Masonry . He wanted to do what he could to I 1 P ^ P ity of the lodge , and he asked for the cordial support of the officers w ! P *** ' carrying out his duties during his year of office , and after that period as passed , he would do anvthine- to helo the lodge , and he should do it to the best

W- ] "ty an ( " with the heartiest goodwill . He would call upon the Senior -ween to respond to this toast ; he was the next officer to himself , and had done ext eat < v ' ' inaugurating and forming the lodge . They were all to a certain § , " " ' Scotchmen . For himself he only had one qualification—that his motto was j g / ( A VOICE : " That ' s enough . " ) He thought his first cousin also—Mr . A . hon ti ° Ur—Was a Scotchman—whatever Mr . Balfour had done had been done both s - est v and well . His father and his ( Lord Fusion ' s ) mother were brother and Pric . v . *^ . ° f the lodge he would not allow politics to be mentioned at any i he mentioned this circumstance without any reference to politics . For

Consecration Of The Scots Lodge, No. 2319.

himself , he would g ive the most hard and indomitable work in order that the lodge mig ht be placed in the proud pre-eminence in which they wished it to be . Bro . VERO SHAW , in reply , assured the brethren he rose with the very greatest pleasure to respond for the first time to the toast of the Officers of the lodge . It was a pleasure at all times , but especially in that lodge , in which he hoped the best

means would be taken to unite them more closely than they had ever been before . Many of the founders were Scotch Masons ; some of them had been initiated in Scotch lodges , but some in English lodges , but they were none the less loyal to the Grand Lodge of England . He mi ght say that in returning thanks for the officers of the lodge and himself , whom the W . M . had coupled with the toast , they would not have been there that night if it had not been for that one unfailing kindness

that had been vouchsafed to them by the Grand Officers of the Grand Lodge of England . It was a very open point that when they had proposed this lodge and sent in their petition , they made a very unfortunate mistake , the particulars of which he would not mention . Time was short , they wished to have the consecration before the end of the season , and to meet for work before the brethren left town . Had it not been for the kindness of the Grand Secretary , they would not have been there that night . There would have been no Scots Lodge , and no

officers to respond to the toast . Therefore he thought that in returning thanks , and drinking the health of the officers of the lodge , he should not lose sight of the great kindness rendered to them by the G . Secretary . With regard to what the W . M . had said as to the necessity of the absolute loyalty of his officers , he hoped that at the end of the W . M . ' s year of office it would be found that they had done their duty , and that they were determined to support him . He thanked them very much , and assured the W . M . that the officers most cordially reciprocated the good wishes the brethren had offered towards them . The brethren then separated . The lodge was furnished by Bro . George Kenning .

Supreme Grand Chapter.

SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER .

The following is the business to be transacted on Wednesday , the 7 th insl : — The minutes of the last Quarterly Convocation to be read for confirmation . THE REPORT OK THE COMMITTEE OE GENERAL PURPOSES , To the Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of England . The Committee of General Purposes beg to report that they have examined the accounts from the 17 th April to the 16 th July , 188 9 , both inclusive , which they find to be as follows :

To Balance Grand Chapter . £ 123 13 7 By Disbursements during „ ,, Unappropriated the Quarter ^ 304 14 0 Account ... 192 19 7 „ Balance 175 3 7 „ Subsequent Receipts ... 358 ' 11 6 ,, ,, Unappropriated Account ... 195 7 1 £ 675 4 8 4 * 675 4 8 Which balances are in the Bank of England , Western Branch . The Committee have to report that they have received the following petitions : ist . From Comps . Col . Henry Piatt , as Z . ; Donald Cameron , as H . ; William Hugh Thomas , as J . ; and eight others , for a chapter to be attached to the St . David ' s Lodge , No . 384 , Bangor , to be called the Star of Gwynedd Chapter , and to meet at the Masonic Hall , Bangor , in the Province of North Wales .

and , From Comps . George Joseph Westbury , as Z . ; Thomas Edward Lucy , as H . ; Edward Arthur Hicks , as J . ; and six others , for a chapter to be attached to the Lodge Semper Fidelis , No . 529 , Worcester , to be called the Semper F'idelis Chapter , and to meet at the Masonic Hall , High-street , in the City of Worcester . 3 rd . From Comps . Alfred Rixon , as Z . ; Walter Gait Gribbon , as H . ; Thomas Blanco White , as J . ; and six others , for a chapter to be attached to the Mount Moriah Lodge , No . 34 , London , to be called the Moriah Chapter , and to meet at Freemasons' Hall , London .

4 th . From Comps . Jehanghir Kursetji Rustomji Cama , as Z . ; Nathaniel John Goodchild , as H . ; Ebenezer Charles Mulvey , as J . ; and seven others , for a chapter to be attached to the Regent ' s Park Lodge , No . 2202 , London , to be called the Regent ' s Park Chapter , and to meet at the York and Albany Hotel , Gloucester Gate , Regent ' s Park , London . The foregoing petitions being in all respects regular , the Committee recommend that the prayers thereof be respectively granted .

The Committee have also to report that they have received memorials , with extracts of minutes , on the removal of the following chapters , and , being satisfied of the reasonableness of the requests , recommend that the removal of these chapters be sanctioned , viz : —

( 1 ) . The Joppa Chapter , No . 188 , from the Albion Tavern to the Guildhall Tavern , Gresham-street , London . ( 2 ) . The Westbourne Chapter , No . 733 , from St . John ' s Wood to the Holborn Restaurant , Holborn . ( 3 ) . The Phoenix Chapter of St . Ann , No . 1235 , from the Court House to the Town Hall , Buxton .

The Committee have further to report that in consequence of the formation and recognition of a Grand Lodge of Victoria , there are , with the exception of the Meridian Lodge of St . John , No . 729 , and the Combermere Lodge , No . 752 , Melbourne , which have not yet signified their intention of joining the Grand Lodge of Victoria , no longer English Craft lodges in that colony to which the chapters meeting in the District of Victoria can be attached , as required by Article 45 , Royal Arch Regulations .

The Committee , therefore , recommend that the Charters of the undermentioned chapters be withdrawn and cancelled , and that the chapters be erased from thc Register of the Grand Chapter . No . 474 , Australasian , Melbourne . 11 53 ° i Victorian , Melbourne . „ 641 , Royal Golden of Bendigo , Sandhurst . ,, 692 , Eureka , Castlemain . „ 713 , Yarrowee , Ballarat . „ 727 , Collingwood , Melbourne . ,, 728 , St . John , Beechworth . „ 747 , Melbourne , Melbourne . „ 930 , South Yarra , Melbourne . ( Signed ) ROBERT GREV , President . Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C , 17 th July , 1889 .

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