Laying The Foundation-Stone Of A New Lodge At Addington, Natal.

LAYING THE FOUNDATION-STONE OF A NEW LODGE AT ADDINGTON , NATAL .

As promised in our last issue , we now give an account of the proceedings at the banquet , which took place in the evening at lhc Alexandra Hotel , Point . Bro . Colley , \ V . NI . " 'y 37 , presided , and those at the head of thc other

tables were llros . Crone , W . M . 73 S ; Morrison , S . M . 447 ; Willis , VV . M . 1192 ; Smith , VV . M . 1605 ; Ilorsley , VV . M . ,- _<< j ; and Field , P . M . 55 S , 14 . 56 , and 1 SS 0 . T here were also amongst those present Bros . Russell , P . M . 738 ; Finnemore , 1 O . 15 ; Marriott , P . M . 73 S 5 Harrison , P . M . 447 ; Stantial , P . M . 956 ; Hart , P . M . 724 ; Voysey , P . M . 1102 ; and Rix , 3 'j S . ... . .

The number of brethren present was 102 , and such a "athering of Masons has never before been witnessed in Natal . The band of thc 5 SH 1 Regiment was engaged , and at intervals during the repast played some excellent selections . When the tables were cleared and the glasses charged , Bro . C KOWK , acting as Toastmaster , proposed the toasts of "The Oucen , " and "ll . R . II . the Prince of Wales , the

most noble the Grand Master of England , which were received with applause . lhc toast of "The M . W . Grand Masters of Scotland and Ireland " were next given . Bro . R CSSKI 1 ., in proposing the toast ol "The newlyinstalled VV . M . of the Addington Lodge , Bro . thc V ' en . Archdeacon Colley , " said that Bro . Colley entered upon his duties under most favourable auspices . Although

a young Mason , and with comparatively little experience , yet lie entered the lodge with considerable prestige , first because it was a new lodge and everyone was interested in it , and secondly , because every member joining it was a member of some other lodge , but though it was desirable lo form a new lodge nearer his home—and it showed that thev were willing to support thc new lodge by their desire

to have it nearer their homes—and lastly , all those who formed thc new lodge were zealous Masons , and not finding employment for their talents in their own lodges had therefore formed a new lodge . Accordingly the VV . M . entered upon his career with Hying colours , and he ( thc speaker ) had not the slightest doubt but that . the good wishes of everyone would carry the new lodge forward to

prosperity under the auspices of the newly installed VV . M . ( Applause ) . In response , the VV . M . the V ' en . Archdeacon CCJI . LE y , « aid : I thank you , brethren , for thc very kind way in which you have received my name this evening . The position 1 occupy to-day is one which I have been disinterested enough to covet for some time . Disinterested , Isavfor it entails a considerable amount of labour , and

, llie ' honour ( though I appreciate it greatly and prize it most highly ) I could better dispense with than the duty connected therewith , to which I feel a native attachment , yet which nevertheless necessitates , as all Masons know , very close application and real hard work . Still in the heat of the toil , mental and bodily , there is hy the way of compensation the nroud feeling that any man may lawfully indulge

when he stands before such an assembly as I stand to-day , the chosen leader of a fraternity so ancient and honourable , and , next to religion ( of which it is the best part , and thank heaven , cicedlcss ) so wise , and beneficent , and useful , and good as Freemasonry . Amid the sad divisions of mankind , and the opposing parts we have to take from conscious feeling and individual principle in politics and

religion , often man against man , is it not a blessed thing that there should be common ground where on an equality we all can meet . Wide as the poles asunder on many things , here is one object and the cliicfcst , round which we all can cluster and rally and cohere , and in which we all can unite neighbourly friendship , benevolence of thought and feeling towards our fellows , in a word , the Brotherhood

nf Man , that highest and most practical proof of thc fatherhood of God , the great Architect of the Universe , in whose service we , as Speculative Masons , Free and Accepted , are charged from our initiation as entered apprentices to assist in building up the temple of humanity . Illundcring , it may be , a little in our first steps and endeavours as apprentice hands , we commence with the

rough ashlar to work , milk , and indent on ; but soon it is our privilege , more skilful now on the perfect ashlar , to try and adjust our jewels . And so on and on through this degree and that step b y step do we make real progress in life , and fulfil ( though it may take some of us three score years and ten in the process ) life ' s solemn contract , emulating throughout all our mortal years thc labour of the Greal Architect when he said " Let us make man . " For rough ashlars we arc quarried .

But thc gavil of life s shocks , Willi the chisel's point to dress us , Thc nonsense from us knocks . In VVisdom , Strength , and Beauty It is our aim to grow ; And by doing well his duty A Mason you shall know . For true to the Plummet

All our doings arc , If we act on the Level And work on the Square . When , as instrumental with others in the institution of this lodge , wc set about the work that has this day seen fruilion , 1 had no idea whatever of being made its lirst Master . At the time 1 was onlv as a temporary resident in the

parish , a bird of passage as it were , a simple stop-gap , expecting weekly the arrival of a clergyman for Christ Church , whose coming would have been the signal for my immediate departure for England . I had , therefore , no interior motive to serve in the interest I took in founding this lod ge . I saw the advantage that would accrue to the Craft in having Masonry corporate )! ' represented at

Addington , where I found so many of the brethren . And I saw the greater advantage that my parish would reap jroin having Masonry as one of its institutions . A good text here occurs to me ; but there : s a wise law in our Order that forbids allusion to religious as to political matters , with discussion thereon , else , as a clergyman , I Should at this iuncturc lie able to nnnnnnrn . 1 verv mil h'xt

m support of my remarks . But this 1 may say , that the Creat Grand Master and Great Architect of the Universe nas caused it to be transcribed on the tracing board written n the volume of the Sacred Law that " He maketh men to oe ot one mind in thc same house . " And while these two important things , religion and politics , still divide mankind nto opposing camps , Masonry is as a city of refuge to flee unto irom the noise of the archers—the clangour of the

Laying The Foundation-Stone Of A New Lodge At Addington, Natal.

creeds , the wrangle of the sects and the party cries of thc State . It is a blessed retreat where the best part of our manhood can get a new lease of hope , to enable us to keep down the heart ' s cynicism , and doubt that looms so darkly often and clouds the future adverse to our rosy view of life ; yea the sacred refuge where tylcd from the intrusion of outer baneful inllucnccs we can gather strength to go out into the world-battle with the sophisms and shams that

daily surround us . " O for a lodge in some vast wilderness , " was the aspiration of one of the prophets of old when feeling the need of such a retreat as this from the strife of daily life ; and not in a wilderness indeed , by any means , as we Addingtonians think , but a paradise as it may be with a little tree planting and path cutting through the bush , and undoubtedly the future centre of the commerce of the colony , have we established our lodge . And

diverse as may be the sentiments and opinions of men on matters political and religious and what not , we welomc all . For here , will benevolence in thought and -charity , in word and act and deed ( the distinguishing characteristics of the Craft ) under the directing providence of the Supreme Grand Master and Great Architect of the Universe , make men to be of one mind in the same house , where as brothers all we may dwell

together in unity within the walls now rearing and our heart ' s common home , situated mystically due east towards the warm skies of the glorious sunnsing , in length Irom east to west , in breadth between north and south , in depth from the surface of the earth to ils centre , commensurate with its altitude high as the heavens . For a . Masonic lodge is even of this vast extent to signify thc universality of the science , and suggest that a Mason ' s charity should know no

bounds save those of prudence , and his benevolent thought and n ighhourly feeling no limit or bound whatsoever . Hence Masonry may be looked upon as a religion—the religion of common life and common sense , and , therefore , as 1 have said , creedlcss : no jots and tittles to annoy—no straws of doctrine to stumble at—no heresy to dread—no orthodoxy to be ashamed of . In politics it is a committee ot the whole house—the Government party , together with Her

Majesty s opposition concurrent to legislate for the public good—the public good in the private bettering of each individual , according to the obligation required of us from initiation upwards to be good and true men and quiet citizens . These are the practical ethics of Masonry . As an intellectual system , its depths , even by many experienced Masons , are but little suspected : as we all in our turn have described it , it is " a peculiar system of moralitv , veiled in allegory anil

illustrated by symbols . " And only a close study of the science of correspondences , the grammar of sacred symbols , and lexicon of divine allegory can fully discover to us all the mental wealth csotcricall y hidden in Ancient Freemasonry . The Rosicructans , the Gnostics , the Ksscnians , and , in modern times the new order of I heosophists , seem to be thc only adepts as outsiders capable of estimating rightly the profound depths of our system . And these err

in dividing the moral from the intellectual part of our philosophy . Intelligent and worthy Freemasons alone , except the spiritually initiate , have the mater al in its virgin state and rich profusion , to combine thc knowledge of thc good and true ( as expressed in our mysteries ) with the humble endeavour to practise it . But I must not allow myself to bedrawn into anticipating a lecture on Masonry ; this will be a pleasing duty for me some day in lodge as

Master . Ihe festivities of the occasion , now that the great work of thc day is accomplished , require the How of soul rather than any poor apology 1 can offer for thc feast ot reason ; and , indeed , it would be unkind to expect much reason after a dinner of so many courses . Let us , therefore , be confent to he merry for the rest 0 / the day , and

w | se if we can bo to-morrow and all our mjrrows . Vet with the wisdom of fraternal love let us not forget to cement this our lirst Masonic feast , for What might be done if men were wise , What glorious deeds , my suffering brother ; Would they unite in love and right , And cease the scorn of one another .-

Oppression s arm might be cmbued Vvitli kindling drops of loving-kindness 1 And knowledge pour from shore to shore Light on the eyes of mental blindness . All slavery , warfare , lies , and wrong , All vice and crime might die together ; And milk and corn , to teachmen born , Be free as warmth in summer weather .

The meanest wretch that ever trode , The deepest sunk in guilt and sorrow , Might stand erect in self respect And share a teeming world to-morrow . What might be done ' : This mi g ht be done , And more than this , my suffering brother ; More than the tongue ere said or sung ,

If men were wise and loved each other . This wisdom 1 trust wc all shall learn , and , as required of us by the Craft , never forget to practise at the Addington Lodge , No . 11 J 37 . Bro . HARRISON , in proposing "The Health of the

Installing Ollicer , Bro . S . Marriott , P . M ., " said that he had known him for a number of years , lie had always done his duty in an able manner , but never better than on that day . Bro . MARRIOTT briefl y returned thanks , and in doing so asked thc company to drink " Prosperity to the Addington Lodge , " a request which was complied with with

acclamation . The toast of " The Officiating Oflicer , Bro . G . Russell , P . M ., " was proposed by Bro . Vovsisv , who said that he had previously been of opinion that some men were born to speak and some to work , but after the excellent address of Bro . Colley he felt that he must change that opinion . Thc officiating ollicer , Bro . Russell , stood before them as worthy of respect by every brother present . He had worked hard ,

and had discharged the duty devolving upon him with ability and grace . It had been his ( Bro . Russell ' s ) habit to frequently put ill an appearance at the lnanda Lodge and give the brethren advice , and he ( Bro . Voysey ) was sure that he would be always willing to impart the same knowledge to the brethren of the Addington Lodge . With these remarks he called upon them to drink the health of the

olliciating oflicer , Bro . G . Russell , P . M . Bro . RUSSELL , in replying , stated that he could safely say that this was the proudest moment of his life ; he had said that live times before , he thought , but this was the occasion when it was so . Thirty-one years ago Bro . Finnemorc and himself were washed ashore on the Bluff , and when they got over to this side it was somewhere near the

Laying The Foundation-Stone Of A New Lodge At Addington, Natal.

spot where the ceremony of that afternoon had taken place , but they had then to look out for buffaloes and tigers , which were unpleasantly numerous . Years afterwards thc first Masonic lodge was established in Durban , and he become a member some months afterwards , but they existed for fifteen or sixteen years before they could own a property of their own . That day , however , they had laid the foundation stone of a lodge which absolutely only commenced

its being 011 thc day the foundation stone was laid —( hear , hear)—and if that was not a cause for congratulation he did not know what was . ( Applause . ) They had now three lodges at Durban , two on the coast , and about seven upcountry , and before very long , that was , as soon as these strange times had become . settled , they would find that Masonry had made such progiess as would warrant them in establishing a Grand l . odge ' lor the colony . 1 Ic hoped that

he might live to sec it ; and thanked them for the kind manner in which they had drunk his health . BRO . CRIIWK , proposed "The Orator . Bro . K . I . Fituieiuoie , P . M ., " ami in doing so remarked that they might recall that when Solomon ' s Temple was built its excellence and grandeur were mentioned in the widest parts of the earth . They Here told that it possessed two pillars , one 011 each side of the entrance ; it was not for him to

say if the temple they were erecting at Addington would vie with or suirass Ihe Temple of their ancient Grand Master : that problem he would leave to archa-ologisls of centuries hence to decide . But there were pillars round the foundation stone of the temple raised that dav , anil two especially worthy of notice . One hacl been alluded to already 111 the person of P . M . Bro . Russell ( Hear hear ) , who laid the stone , but the other was P . M . Bro . Finnemore

( Applause ) , who had had a dillicult and onerous part to play . I le had to give a general exposition of the principles of Masonry , and yet had to do so without divulging any of their secrets . I ic did that , as all the lire thrcn present knew , as well as they could have wished ( Hear hear ) . He ( the speaker ) had heard various expressions from brethren not onl y belonging to Durban but Maiit / . burg , and they all united in extolling the able manner in which he had

performed the dillicult task allotted to him . Bro . Finnemore occupied a high and dillicult position in the Craft , and he ( Bro . Crowe ) thought he worthily fulfilled it , and he looked forward to Bro . Finnemore , P . M . occupying a much higher position in the Craft than he did at present ( Cheers . He hoped he would be long spared to the Fraternity and the colony lo perform similar duties to those he had performed that day , and in the same able and masterly manner as

that in winch he spoke at the laying of the stone . BRO . FIN . SK . MOKI :, P . M ., said lie had always taken great interest in Masonry , and believed it was a matter of rejoicing to Ihem all that another lodge was established in Natal , lie thought it a great honour to discharge the duties he had to perform that dav , and he hoped it was not the last time in which he should he called upon to take part in the establishment of a Masonic lodge in Natal , lie

thought they might congratulate themselves that the Addington Lodge had been established under such favourable auspices . He thanked them very much for the way in which they had prcposedand received Ihe toast of his health . A collection was here made to form thc nucleus of a Benevolent Fund for thc new lodge . The toast of " The Caledonian Lodge" was proposed by Hro . Keeler , who in iluing so said that the Caledonian

was the only foreign lodge in the colony , all the others being under the English constitution . Still the brethren of the Port Natal Lodge would call lo mind the happy way in which the Caledonian Lodge had worked with them . They never had to go a second time to the Caledonian Lodge to ask for any assistance they wanted or for charitable purposes . He advised the Addington Lodge to cultivate acquaintance with the Caledonian Lodge , as thev would not

lose anything by it , and they could say nothing too highly in favour of the Caledonian Lodge . BRO . MORRISON' , responding to the toast , said they were possibly aware of the fact that the W . M . of thc Caledonian Lodge was not present , and thc P . M . being indisposed was ' also absent , so that it devolved upon him to repl y to the toast , though lie did so with a great amount of diflidencc . He should have pleasure , and considered it llis

duty , to report to the lodge the very high manner in which Hro . Keeler had spoken of the lodge , though , no doubt , they would be very much surprised to hear themselves spoken of as distinguished foreigners , He thanked them heartily for their kind expressions regarding the Caledonian Lodge , and pointed out that during his experience of the lodge they had never on any occasion applied to the Port Natal Lodge for any assistance for distressed brethren but

it had been given 111 the very heartiest manner . ( Applause . ) Thc remaining toasts were " The Masters and Past Masters of other Visiting Lodges , " " The Visiting Brethren , " "The Newly-Installed Officers ol the Addington Lodge , " "The Ladies , " "The Absent Brethren , " and thc Tyler's .

1 he proceedings , which had been of a most unanimous and enjoyable character , were brought to a close shortly after midnight . J In our report of thc laying of thc stone , on page 113 of our previous issue , b y a typographical error , it was stated to have taken place m New Zealand—it should have been Natalj .

Perfect Ashlar Lodge Ball.

PERFECT ASHLAR LODGE BALL .

The anniversary gathering of the above lodge was celebrated with great success on Thursday evening , the 2 $ rd ult ., at the Bridge House Hotel , London Bridge . The arrangements were of the most perfect character , and resulted in giving the most complete satisfaction to the ladies and gentlemen present . Dancing commenced

shortly after nine o ' clock , to the strains of Bro . Grove Kllis ' s band . The company , numbering nearly too , adjourned to supper about twelve o ' clock . Bro . Vardley personally superintending - . Subsequently the toasts of "The Queen " and "The Stewards" were given and well received ; thc latter being responded to by Bro . VV . T . Lover , P . M . "The Ladies" were toasted in felicitous terms by Bro . Scholield , and happily responded to by

Bro . Cooper . Dancing was resumed and continued with unabated enjoyment until after four o ' clock , when the company separated . Great praise is due to Bro . H . Stockwelf , the Hon . Secretary to the ball , and to the Stewards , who were Bros . I . Ouincey , VV . M . ; R . Challoner , S . VV . ; E . Bridges , J . W . '; I ' . H . lLbswortli , P . M . ; W . T . Lover , P . M . ; J . J . Bell , P . M . ; T . Clark . S . D . ; F . VV . Stamp , J . D . ; G . Williamson , S . E . ; S . Shaw , J . Porter , I . G .: and J . G . Willctt . '