Consecration Of The Sir Hugh Myddelton Lodge (No. 1602.)

i t if therc was an ^ 1 > 0 ' nt oa w ' ' ' ' *¦ C 0 U U boast * t If to use a common phrase , it was that it was a nation that ' valued reality , thoroughness , straightforwardness , j honesty , that it was not a nation of shams . I very a " _ ch fear , if we look into the commercial world at thc n " el , t Jay , with all our vaunted education , we shall not

J- d greater honesty than was to be tound a century ago , ¦ licthcr you take it from the Stock Exchange downwards to the smallest and pettiest tradesman that exists in the itv . Thank God there are thousands of glorious exceptions ; but I am speaking generally , that it is a sign of the times , and that in the commercial world there is an immense amount of unreality . When I come again to social

] ife I find the same thing . We live too much out of our homes , which used to be thc boast of England too . And 1 fear that in living much out of our homes , and in moving jn what is commonly called society , wc do not improve those domestic virtues which I believe make the women as well as the men of England great . Nay , even in that part of our social entertainment

commonly called the dinner or the banquet , even there unreality is supplied broadcast for us ; and nothing can be more unreal than many of those entertainments typical of the society which gathers around it , of that unreality , that want of substantiality , that old English idea whic _ should pervade even the dinner which we eat . When 1 come to religion 1 find the same element abound , whether

it exists in the form of what is commonly and significantly called " cant " or religious—mere religious—profession , reminding one of the " sounding brass and the tinkling cymbal , " which has made religion and hypocrisy almost synonymous in the mouths of business men-, or , whether , on thc other side I look to that adoration of mere externals which are cropping up and eating out the

life and reality of Ehghshmen and Englishwomen ; I say whether I look to one or thc other—commercial , social , or religious—I find that sham is taking a very strong hold of English society . And , brethren , when we find this abroad in the world in general , shall we Alasons in particular •¦ xpect to remain immaculate ? Certainly not . It is well for us when we have our closed doors to speak

honestly to one another ; and certainly he would be but a dishonest watchman who should as your Chaplain and not speak his minel off . Brethren , I am sure you will agree with me in feeling that we do ne > t enough practise out of the lodge those noble duties ar . d tenets which we hear within it ; and in no place is that more manifest to me sometimes than in the conversation , iu the song and in other things which

occur after some of our lodge mceetings and banquets . Let me speak plainly , I am quite sure of this , that if those noble principles which arc impressed so beautifully upon us in our assemblies that wc should keep within the bounds of propriety , that wc should observe temperance in all things , that wc should avoid anything like " indecency and excess , " I am quite sure that though , thank God ,

again , thc great majority of our t _ -. _ Ten hold to these noble tenets , there are such exceptions as do warrant me in making these observations ; I do not think in our assemblies out of the lodge wc as men , if true to our obligation , if true to the tenets of our Order , should use with our lips any words , doubtful or not , which we should not be prepared to make use of in thc presence of

our wives and children . That is the test . It was but a little time ago I was trying to persuade a tradesman with whom I have a certain connection to take an indecent print out of his window , and after he had used all kinds of arguments to convince me that it was a worV of art and others of that flimsey , but specious kind which were to be swept away by common sense , I asked him this

question : " Arc you a husband ? " " I am . " " Have you a daughter ? " " Yes . " " Will you take her on your arm and stand opposite that picture for three minutes ? " " No , 1 would not ; " and that brought him to think of old Burns' prayer , "Oh , wad some power the giftie gie us to see oursels as ithers sec us , anil so frae many a blunder free us , " and hc took it away accordingly . I woulel also

venture to remark upon another point within thc lodge which has been partially touched upon by our excellent presiding Alaster . 1 think that any man who joins Alasonry ought to join it tor its own sake , and when he does join it come anil attend its assemblies whenever bis private avocations or public duties freely aelmit it ; that he woulel not drop in merely in time for thc banquet , but would

come to the lodge , and then he would there hear those beautiful and instruction ceremonies which will certainly help to make him a better man and Alason . But , moreover , I venture to think also that if he has the laudable ambition to take office , which every man should have , then he certainly ought to make himself master of the working of the lodge , so that hc should not when he

™ mes i „ to office not merely not convey the beautiful lessons which I speak of , but that he should positively hold them up to ridicule and obloquy . The not doing so is another instance of sham . A man may ¦¦ ay , ' 1 have j _ ineel a loelge ; I am an officer , " but then if ie really anel truly does not act up to the profession he makes , that is sham . Again , if a man proposes another er of his

of M "J , ^ lodge , when he does so hc is a trustee broth I ! a " d if lie ! . oses his own brother , if that J" nnt answer t 0 that description given in our Mason " * . ' , v What are fit aml V V persons to be made he 1 ' ° u know tht : answer—if it is his own broth-r . re . _ " t 0 P l ) ose him : ' he docs it is a sham , and a _ ..-7 . "ie to : > ' l may make the remark . Brethren , I am te satisfied

u > in the few desultory observations which I nni . " r . - that you wil 1 a ° rce wUh rae that the bcst wo I > w or a "y othc ' r lo < 1 - e to have in thc oW thre <* -voras -fcsse quam videri , " to be , rather than to seem . I i J'" ^ . Ureth : it >' 0 u wiI 1 a £ ree with me that the S rcat n ... Masonry points out both in its older part , and in its < -wtr part some of the plain simple honest duties which doll , Iii '" usas Englishmen and Alascns . " What file Lord require of thee but to do justly , to love

Consecration Of The Sir Hugh Myddelton Lodge (No. 1602.)

mercy and to walk humbly with thy God ? " Could there be a more beautiful anil terse expression of our Alasonic creed ? And in the newer part of that glorious old book " pure anel undefiled religion " is e ' efinee ! to be " to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction and to keep ourselves unspotted from thc world . " If , brethren , we try to follow these glorious texts wc shall then be able to

follow thc olel book as well as aeloptthc sentiments of a mo dern poet in those glorious lines wherein he says : — Life is real , life is earnest , and the grave is not its goal , Dust thou art , to dust rcturnest , was not spoken of the soul . Let us then be up and doing , with a heart for any fate , Still pursuing , still achieving , learn to labour and to wait

The rev . brother sat down amidst loud cheers . The remainder e , f the ceremony was then proceeeled with , and at the installation of W . AI . Bro . Elias Somcrs was installed W . AI . The following brethren were afterwards invested : — Bros . E . G . Sim , S . VV . ; T . J . Coombs , J . W . ; J . Weston , Treasurer ; J . Osborn , Secretary ; A . Rowley , S . D . ; F . Ellen , J . D .: ' j- G . Glover , I . G . ; J . D . Taylor , Steward ;

W . T . Poulton , Steward ; H . De Solla , Organist ; and W . Steedman , Tyler . Thc consecrating brethren were elected honorary members of the lodge , viz ., Bros . Hervey , Filer , Woodman , Cottebrune , and Simpson , 16 irrtiates and 3 joining members , were afterwards proposed and the lodge was then closed . A splendid banquet was afterwards provided by Bro . F . Sawyer , cf the Crystal Palace , Bro . F . Sawyer , jun ., and Bro . W . Abbott ,

manager , superintending it . The usual list of toasts was proposed and honoured , the replies being made by the Rev R . J . Simpson , Bro . Hervey , Bro . W . T . Howe and Bro . Gallant for the visitors . Bro . Cubitt and Dr . Woodman for the charities , Bros . Weston and Osborn for Treasurer and Secretary , and Bro . Sim for the officers . The musical arrangements , by Bro . De Solla , were excellent . Late in the evening the brethren separated .

Supreme Grand Chapter.

SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER .

Thc Quarterly Convocation of Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Alasons of England was held on Wedncselay evening at Freemasons' Hall . Grand Chapter at its opening was formed as follows : —Lord De Table-y , Z . ; Major VV . Ramsay , District Grand Supt . Punjaub , H . ; S . Rawson , J . ; f . A . Rucker , P . S . ; J . Percy Leith ,

First A . ; Robert Gray , Second A . ; J . Hervey , G . S . E . ; Colonel Creaton , S . N . ; Dr . Woodman , S . B . ; Joseph Smith , as G . D . C . ; F . Pattison , E . G . Snell , James Glaishcr , Joshua Nunn , H . J . P . Dumas , Captain Piatt , Hugh D . j Sandeman , N . Iliadford , Benj . lleae ) , and thc following companions : —A . A . Bagshaw , Z . 1235 ; Workington , Z . 370 ; G . E .

Wainwright , J . 370 ; J . B . Scriven , I-I . 3 ; Joseph Clever , J . 13 ; C . Couplaiul , Z . < j 13-, T . VV . Boord , M . P .. P . Z . 7 ; E . J . Bariuii , P . Z . 214 ; P . Driver , J . 742 ; T . J . Sabine , P . Z . 73 ; W . Ramsay , C . F . Hogard , Hyde Clarke , Z . 515 ; TI . Alassey , P . Z . 619 ( "Freemason" ); Herbert Dicketts , P . Z . 14 , - ;; John Boyd , P . Z . 145 , 534 ; William Stephens , If . 862 , Z . 1365 ; John

Constable , r . 1 ) . Copestick , F . Adlard , Thomas Fenn , II . Aluggeridge , 'Earl of Donoughmore , and C . B . Payne . Grand Scribe E . first read the regulations for the Government of the Supreme Grand Chapter during the time of thc public business , and then thc minutes of last quarterly convocation , and these latter having becn put and confirmed ,

Lorel De Tabley said that the next business which had fallen into his hands as representing the wonhy Grand Z . of thc Order was to declare the names of the officers whom tlieir most illustrious head had been pleased to appoint to thc distinguished honour cf holding oflice in the Grand Chapter . His Lordship then read them as follows : — His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , G . Z . ; the Ear ]

of Carnarvon , Prov . Grand Z . ; Lorel Skelmersdale " , H . j Lord D . Tabley , J . ; John Hervey , S . E . ; Ihe Earl of Donoughmore , S . N . ; the Hon . William Warren Vernon , P . S . ; the Rev . Spencer Robert Wigram , ist A . S . ; Lieut-Col . Thomas Birchall , 2 nd A . S . ; Samuel Tomfcins , Treas . ; . -E . Alclntyre , Q . C , Registrar ; Thomas VV . Boord , AI . P ., F . S . A ., Sword Bearer ; Edward J . Barron , Standard

Bearer ; John M . Case , Director of Ceremonies ; and Chas . Bryant Payne , Janitor . The companions were then invested , anil Colonel Creaton , President of the Committee of General Purposes , brought up the report of that committee-, and this having been taken as read , and ordered to be received and entered on the minutes , Colonel Crcaton proposed seriatim the granting of warrants for five

new chapters , to the under mentioned lodges , Nos . 1393 , 903 , 1071 , 1423 and 1185 . These having been authorized the election of the Committee of General Purposes was taken , and on propositions being made the following companions were declareel duly . elected : —James Lewis

Thomas , 13 ; Joseph Smith , 19 ; J-ihn Boyel , 145 ; II . C . Levaneler , VV . Stephens , 1365 ; and F . Adlard , 214 . The following companions were nominated by the Prince of Wales : —Colonel Creaton , Benj . Head and Robert Gray . This concluded the business of Granel Chapter , which was thereupon closed in due form .

A charge of libel brought against Bro . Thomas Jones , thc publisher of the ' * Sewing Machine Chronicle , " has been disposed of at the Alay Session of the Central Criminal Court . The defendant ' s council , Serjeant Ballantine and Air . Straight , entered the pica that thc alleged libel contained matters that were true in substance and

fact , and that it was for the public benefit that this should be known . The jury acquitted thc defendant . Upwards of 100 brethren were juesent on Thursday at the consecration of the Merlin Lodge , No . 1578 . A full repent of the proceedings will appear in our next .

Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

By command of the Provincial Grand Master of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight , Bro . W . W . Beach , AI . P ., the Provincial Grand Secretary , Bro . J . E . Le Feuvre , telegraphed to H . R . H . the Prince of Wales at Madrid expressing the desire of the Freemasons of the province to offer their congratulations to the Grand Alaster on

his arrival within tlieir province from India . H . R . H . has been graciously pleased to accede to their wishes and Provincial Grand Lodge has becn summoned to meet at Portsmouth on the 1 ith ult . for the purpose . The Masons of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are fortunatein being the first to welcome our Royal Grand Master home .

It has been settled by arbitration that the sum of £ 310 , 000 is to be paid to the Liverpool Corporation by the Aleisey Docks and Harbour Board for a piece of land which has been acquired by the Board from the Corporation . This is at the rate of £ 2 17 s . 7 d . per yard . THE TULIPS IN THE TEMPLE GARDENS . — The warm weather of thc last few days has brought the

collection of tulips in the Temple Gardens to great perfection . Air . Newton , the head gardener , has arranged the beds very tastefully . Among the best specimens we may mention the Cottage Maid , a very pretty variegated flower ; the Tournesol ( double ) , the Kaiser Kroon , and the Rex Rubrorum , the latter a very bright crimson flower . The gardens are now open daily to the public .

vV e are authorised to state that the Prince of Wales proposes to arrive at Portsmouth on Thursday , the 1 ith of Alay , and will be met off the Isle of Wi ght by the Princess of Wales and her children . The Consecration of the Clive Lodge , No . 1 .. 75 , will take place on Alonday , the 15 th ult ., at Market

Drayton . The proceedings will commence at 2 o ' clock , banquet at 4 . The anniversary festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys will be held at the Alexandra Palace , on Wednesday , June 28 th , under the chairmanship' of Bro . the Rt . Hon . Lord Leigh , Provincial Grand Alaster of Warwickshire . Alasonic clothing will not be worn .

Bro . His Royal Hi ghness the Duke of Connaught , K . G ., who is now on his way to join bis regiment , the 7 th Hussars , will be appointed to the staff of the 5 th Army Corps , which is to be mobilised in the southern counties next July . Bro . Sir John Bennett will lecture on " The Dutch and their Doings , " at the Greenwich Society for the

Diffusion of Useful Knowledge , on Tuesday next . Bro . His Grace the Duke of Abereorn , Most Worshipful Grand Alaster of Ireland , was present on Friday last in the Exhibition Palace , Dublin , at the annual distribution of prizes of the Masonic Female Orphan School . The gathering numbered over 7000 persons . A full report will appear in our next .

The turnr-ike at Archway-road , near Hi ghgate , ceased to exist yesterday . The road was constructed in 1813 , after a vain attempt had been made to tunnel Highgate-hill , and the cost of its construction amounted t 0 jC 1 3 . 000 . The toll was felt most vexatious , and its removal has been long desired .

The sale of Bro . VV . Foster White ' s pictures on Saturday , by Alessrs . Christie , Manson , and Woods , at their gallery in King , street , realized £ 1087 . At the same sale a small collection of modern pictures and drawings , formerly belonging to thc late Sir Sills John Gibbons , Bart ., realized £ 283 . The amount realized by Bro . White's engravings on Alonday last was £ 66 gs .

Her Majesty the Queen will hold a Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday , May 10 th , at three o'clock ; and another Drawing Room , also at Buckingham Palace , at three o ' clock on Friday , May 12 th . The foundation-stone of a new church at

Nuneaton was laid with Alasonic ceremony by Bro . the Right Hon . Lord Leigh on Wednesday , 26 th ult .- A report will appear in our next . His Grace the Duke of Abereorn , M . W . G . M . Ireland , will open the Belfast Working Alens' Exhibition on thc 23 rd inst . Her Imperial Majesty the Empress of Germany landed at Dover on Wednesday , shortly after noon , and at once proceeded by special train to Windsor .

CAPTAIN S . G . HOMFRAY , A . G . D . C . OF EN-_ . __ D , ANO D . P . G . M . MON . —We regret that the name of this well-known brother was again omitted in our report of the grand festival which appealed last week . Bro . the Rt . Hon . Lord Carnarvon , M . W Pro Grand Alaster . ' presided at the 87 th annual dinner of the Royal Literary Funel , on Wednesday last , on behalf of Lord Derby , who was unable to attend in consequence of the death of the Dowager Countess .

Bro . the Ri ght Hon . Lord Skelmersdale , Deputy Grand Alaster , was present at the funeral of the Dowager Countess of Derby on Tuesday . Monday last , the twenty-sixth birthday of Bro . His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught , was

celebrated at Windsor with the usual honours . In the morning , and at internals throughout the day , the bells of St . George's Chapel and St . John ' s Church rang , salutes of twenty-one guns being fired from the artillery in ih ; Long Walk and thc Royal Adelaide frigate and Foit Belvedere , Virginia Water . Prince Aithur was born Alay ist , 1850 .

WHITTINGTON LOT . GE OF INSTRUCTION , No . 862 . —The meetings arc now held every Wednesday evening at the Black Bull , Holborn , at 8 o ' clock . GAS superseded in day tinr " , and daylight reflected in eiark rooms . Health , comfort , and economy promoted , by adopting Chappuis' Patent Daylight R . 1 "c \ -rs . — Manufactory , 69 , Flett-street , London .