Stability Lodge Of Instruction.

"The Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Carnarvon ; the D . G . M ., the Right Hon . the Earl of Lathom ; and the Grand Officers , Past and Present . " I think we shall admit that a very great debt of gratitude is owing to those who transact our routine business and maintain the " prestige of our great and benevolent Order . In this year 1 SS 1 , the care with which the Grand Officers have been selected by the Grand Master is extremely satisfactory . How

remarkably good the selection is will be seen by noting the important classes from which our present Grand Officers have been taken . You will find they are selected from the nobility , from our judges , and from hard-working Masons , many of them for twenty or thirty years . It is a matter of great gratification when with somewhat perhaps of a jealous scrutiny we scan the list of appointments , to find working Masons from all parts of England selected to fill

those offices which distinguish our Masonic ranks . It has been my lot on many occasions to propose this toast , but I never did it with greater pleasure than now that I have to couple with it one of those thorough hard-working Masons of many years' standing of whom I have been speaking as having had their merits recognised by a bestowal of the purple . I allude to our Bro . Sampson Peirce , and in asking you to drink the health of the Grand Officers , Task you

to drink also that of our distinguished , old , and valued friend , Bro . Sampson Peirce , Grand Deacon of England . Bro . SAMPSON PEIRCE , G . D .: Mr . Chairman and brethren , in returning thanks for the toast that has been so eloquently given to you by our Chairman , and ( so warmly responded to by everybody at the table , I can but rise , as I do now , to return to the best of my ability the heartfelt thanks of every one who was included in that toast . With

regard to our Pro Grand Master , Lord Carnarvon , I am pleased to say that the state of his health has been very much improved by his visit to Madeira . He has now returned , but he was not well enough to be with us the other night . With regard to the Deputy ; Grand Master , the Earl of Lathom , we have in him a man universally popular ; a man who throws his whole soul into Freemasonry , and who comes among us whenever he can . It was

only that he had received the shock of a sudden bereavement that had occurred to him that caused his absence on Wednesday . With regard to the Grand Officers , Present and Past , many Grand Officers , as our Chairman has said , have been selected from working Masons , who have been good representatives of the Craft in their proper place , and 1 hope that those recruits who have been taken into the ranks of the Grand Officers this year may enjoy their

honours for many years . Some of us only go to Grand Lodge after a long service of years ; mine has not been very long—a quarter of a century—during which time I have had the opportunity and pleasure and honour of making many warm and fast friends . I trust that the post I have been called upon to occupy will be of some service to the Craft in general , far [ more than my own personal merit ; and I trust that it may be the lot of the . Grand

Officers through me to come before you at many meetings of Masons , and ever meet with your approval of what we do from year to year . The CHAIRMAN : In rising to propose the fourth toast , brethren , on the present occasion , 1 feel some little hesitation in asking your attention for a short space while 1 try to do justice to this time-honoured toast . I should not have thought myself justified in trespassing upon your attention

at all , but that 1 have for so long a time been a member of the Lodge of Stability , finding to-night that next to our respected old Preceptor , Bro . Muggeridge , I am the oldest member of the lodge present , I felt gratified in acceding to his invitation to preside on the present occasion . At the same time , I feel diffident , as I said before , in addressing you , because I remember how many distinguished Masons have presided in former years over these anniversary meetings of

the Stability . With what delight , for instance , have we on such occasions listened to the words of that very distinguished Mason , Bro . John Havers , two or three of whose best speeches were delivered from the chair in the Lodge of Stability . You will be sorry to learn that he , whose good working and great services to the Craft are unequalled in our Order , is now lying on a bed of physical affliction ; and I am sure it will

be gratifying to him if you will allow me when I write to him , to convey to him the goodwill and sympathy of all members of the Stability Lodge of Instruction . ( Applause . ) Brethren , the question of this toast is a very interesting one , because it relates to the beautiful ritual of our Order , and the very vitality of Freemasonry in this country . Some of us are aware that from time to time there is a yearning in some for what is called uniformity of ritual . But I am quite certain , that what is called

uniformity of ritual would lead to many evils which I will try to explain if you will give me your attention for a few minutes . A rigid uniformity of ritual must infallibly lead to a printed ritual . If there is to be only one uniform ritual , it would be certain to happen in the process of time , that some unscrupulous brother would for the sake of profit print the alleged infallible ritual , and thus we should soon have recourse to a printed ritual . A printed ritual

would be the death blow to all lodges of instruction . Lodges of instruction are peculiar to English Masonry , and I beg to say that a great deal of Masonic vitality , and ; energy , and zeal depends upon lodges of instruction . I venture to think , moreover , that our duty is to strengthen our lodges of instruction in every way that we can , not to go to surreptitious rituals , but to look to the "Masters" of our Order for faithful Preceptors in our lodges of instruction . ( Cheers . )

There are no doubt , and always have been , diversities of ritual in this country . Previously to 1813 , when the modern and ancient systems were blended , there were four systems running in this country , including Preston's ritual , of which I may say this , that though the First and Second Degrees are worked in a great many lodges , yet the Third Degree of Preston has never been worked I believe in this country at all . In 1 S 13 , the Lodge of

Reconciliation was formed , which was an attempt to establish a uniform ritual . But Grand Lodge has wisel y never interfered with little differences in modes of working . In 1 S 10 there was a movement to ascertain what were the " ancient ceremonies , " with a view to preparing for the union of 1 S 13 . Among others they adopted in the so called

Lodge of Promulgation the present Installation Ceremony of Masters , and in 1 S 13 the Lodge of Reconciliation was formed , and Bro . I lemmings was instructed to prepare a ritual , which he did , and the Stability ritual is that of the Rev . Bro . I lemmings . Bro . Williams , who was Provincial Grand Master for Dorsetshire , revised this ritual , and the system of 1 lemmings , perfected by Williams , is the system

Stability Lodge Of Instruction.

used by the Lodge of Emulation . I hope I have put it to you clearly , that you have the ritual prepared by Hemmings himself , and which has , as we have witnessed and proved to-night , still many admirers . Are we then to have all these various " modes" merged into one , and all this lawful liberty of ritual taken away from us ? I cannot see why , when Masonry is "to the fore" in all other respects , a careful rendering of a ritual in which your officers are proficient should

not be adhered to , because it may differ from others in some particulars which , perhaps , those habituated to another mode may regard possibly as faults . All the " modes " convey to us in a very beautiful manner the meaning of Freemasonry , and I cannot see why the liberty we enjoy as to slight variations in the ritual should be taken away from us . There are slight peculiarities in the working of different lodges to which the members initiated in those

lodges become attached through long years , and I ask why we should ask for an uniform ritual which , when we get it , might not appear to every brother the most eloquent , the most beautiful , or most fitly expressed that might have been fixed upon . ( Cheers . ) I was very much struck to-ni g ht with the wording of the ceremonial in regard to the working tools . There may , of course , be two opinions on the subject , and a very great deal may be said both on the side of the

Emulation , and on the side of the Stability Lodge of Instruction . But here let us agree to differ , each , in good will and brotherly regard , holding the form we like and know the best . ( Cheers . ) The Stability Lodge of Instruction was formed by some good brethren in 1 S 17 . Philip Broadfoot , Peter Thomson , Thomas Satterly , James Black , were among those who took an active part in forming the Stability Lodge of Instruction . From their times downwards

the Stability Lodge of Instruction has had its annual meetings , with the consequent assembling of eminent Masons , and I venture to say to-night that these meetings have had not a little to do to the preservation of a pure Freemasonry among us . I have been told , and I have no doubt it is true , that Philip Broadfoot and Peter Thompson used to preside alternately over the Stability Lodge of Instruction , and in 1 S 52 , when Peter Thompson passed away , an excellent old

Mason , I believe he was called Bro . Muggeridge ( a voice : " Called old Mug " ) ivas chosen as his successor , ( cheers . ) But there is a fact connected with Masonic history not so generally known . It is this : this same Bro . Muggeridge having on some day in 1 S 39 , under great and peculiar trials , entered the Lion and Lamb Lodge , the very next day he was proposed a joining member of the Stability Lodge of Instruction ( laughter and cheers ); and this I venture to commend

to thenoticeof young and promising Masons . ( Hear . hear . ) But long speeches and long sermons are alike out of date , and I must bring my remarks to a close . What I would urge upon you is to preserve those little differences of ritual which Torm an ) additional link of attachment to our respective lodges , and from which wc must all therefore be loth to part . VVe , in the Lodge of Antiquity , for instance ,

have a very peculiar ceremony connected with the Third Degree , which we should be most reluctant to part with , and which is observed in only one other lodge in England . That is an illustration of what I have been saying of things which we ought to strive to maintain , and on no account wish hastily to give up for improved systems . What can be better ? What can be more effective ? What can come home more to the brethren received into the Second

atid Third Degrees than such a ritual as we have seen worked in the Stability Lodge of Instruction | to-night ? Therefore , brethren , I do give , with sincere wishes for the prosperity of the lodge of which I have the honour to be a member , " Prosperity to the Stability Lodge of Instruction , " and couple with it the health of our good old friend , whose zeal for Freemasonry is so great , and who we all wish may be long spared by the Great Architect of the Universe to

continue to act as Preceptor to the Stability Lodge of . Instruction . ( Loud applause . ) Bro . MUGGERIDGE : Very Worshipful President and brethren , in rising to acknowledge the very kind manner in which our Chairman has proposed the last toast , the very eloquent and interesting account that he has given you of the progress of Freemasonry for the last sixty or seventy years , and the kind manner in which he has mentioned my

name in connection with the Stability Lodge of Instruction , permit mc to return my grateful thanks . Brethren , I take the opportunity of saying that I was initiated in the Lion and Lamb Lodge , now numbered 192 , then 227 , on the 7 U 1 November , 1 S 39 , and , strange to say , I continued a subscribing member of that lodge exactly forty years to a day ; for on the Cth November , which happened to be a Thursday , 1 S 79 , I resigned . Therefore , I was actually a

subscribing member a term of forty years . Well , brethren , I was initiated , and I was introduced , by Bro . Peter Thompson ; on the following night , with him , I entered the old house where Queen Mary sojourned for some time , which was the homestead where this lodge of instruction held its meetings at that time . Well , Peter Thompson was the manager and Preceptor to the year when he diedthe year 1 S 51—and I have had the honour to be the

Preceptor to the present time . I must tell you that the first meeting after the death of Bro . Thompson was held at the Old London Tavern , and that respected Mason , Bro . John Havers , presided on that occasion . Wc had a very large meeting on that occasion , and some very eminent Masons of that time were present . It is thirty years ago , but I remember it very well . We had a very successful meetinc and the following year we had our meeting there ,

and after that we went to Radley ' s Hotel for our large meetings . In comparison with those meetings ; this is a small meeting . They were always happy meetings , and I think I am only expressing the general opinion when I say that . Three years ago we held our meeting at the Cannonstreet Hotel . Bro . Philbrick presided , and I said on that occasion that I wns falling into the sere and yellow leaf , and should have to discontinue these meetings .

We should not have got up this one but that our Bro . Peirce ( whose elevation to the purple we all rejoice over , knowing that a morc"deserving Mason does not exist ) had expressed a wish to sec me / vork ; thc three ceremonies , whereupon 1 said that it he would come to the lodge of instruction I would give him the opportunity ; and so instead of a small gathering when wc thought wc

should number about twenty , it has come to pass that this important assembly of brethren has gathered around us . The lodge of instruction is my chief pleasure in Freemasonry . In the chapter 1 have been the Scribe , and that for nearly twenty years , but 1 have thrown half my life into the lodge of instruction . I have ' not resigned the Preceptorshipof the Stability Lodge of Instruction , and I do not

Stability Lodge Of Instruction.

intend to resign it till the Great Architect of the Universe in his good providence sees fit to remove me from this sublunary sphere . Brethren , as long as I live I will endeavour to promote the prosperity of the Stability Lodge of Instruction . The fact of being passed through the Three Degrees , and the fact of taking an uncertain number of Masonic Degrees—this does not constitute Freemasonry . There is something beyond . There are the Masonic

Charities , and no Mason should forget those Institutions , which are the best and most glorious Charities in the world . Brethren , 1 thank you most sincerely for your good wishes for the prosperity of the lodge of instruction , and for your kindly feelings towards myself . Bro . HUBBUCK : I am going to make this a short speech , but it is an important one , and , therefore , I hope you will do this toast all the honour you possibly can . We have a

President to-night who has come from the far west to preside over us . He is a Mason of antiquity . VVe have been greatly edified by his beautiful remarks on Freemasonry . VVe know he has been appointed to one of the principal offices in Grand Lodge , because he is a brother who has worked hard for the benefit of Freemasonry , and has used moral influence in support of the moral Order of Freemasons . I hope we shall on a future occasion see

him in this lodge to give us his beautiful and sound advice . The PRESIDENT : As the time is getting on , I will , therefore . confine myself to thanking you , and say that it has given me much pleasure to preside this evening over a gathering of brethren who have come together to testify their appreciation of the long services of an old and common friend , Bro . Muggeridge . I am not a very young man myself now , and am a very old Mason , and my work

is nearly over . I was initiated in 1 S 42 , at Gibraltar . My zeal for Freemasonry has never slackened , and never will so long as I live , because I believe it is an institution calculated to do very great good in promoting kindly feelings one towards another among men . ( applause ) . In order that this pleasant meeting may not separate prematurely , I will now proceed , very shortly , to propose the other toasts . The next toast is one we shall all be

glad to honour , "The Health of thdse Working Brethren—Bros . Scriven , Arnold , Sack , Anderson , Steingraber , Arkell , and Birdseye , " who so kindly assisted to illustrate the working this evening . With the toast I will couple the name of Bro . Scriven . Bro . SCRIVEN : Worshipful Sir , Bro . Muggeridge , and brethren . VVe cannot but feel , after the eloquent way in which the duties of the Masonic ritual—as practised in the

Stability were practised to night , have been referred to by our Chairman—very much pleasure in having assisted in securing such warm expressions of approval . We cannot but feci that the labour of our Preceptor ' s lifetime , the zeal which he has shown in working , have but one object , but that work should be good , thorough , and perfect . Bro . Muggeridge has told us , and we should be making but a poor return for Bro . Muggeridge ' s zeal as an instructor if

we ever allowed his precepts to fall to the ground . I am taking what steps I can in the west of London to perpetuate this mode of working , and I do not think that we can better return thanks than by acting in such a manner as will give pleasure to those who are so much our seniors in Freemasonry . The PRESIDENT : There is a toast which I have special pleasure in proposing to-night , and that is " Prosperity to

the sister lodge of instruction , the Emulation Lodge . I have been instructed to couple with it the name of Bro . H . Leah . I think that we shall feel that the more lodges of instruction there are the better . They help to spread Masonic light and uphold the perfect working of our . most beautiful Masonic ritual . And there is no doubt that the Emulation Lodge has done good "suit and service" to Masonry . I give you " Prosperity to the Emulation Lodge of

Instruction , " for which Bro . Leah will return thanks . Bro' LEAH having said a few words in reply , The PRESIDENT proceeded to propose the last toast . The toast , he said , was one which aroused all our sympathies . He knew a good deal of every kind of charitable working , but he knew of no society which could collect annually between forty and fifty thousand pounds , as was the case with the three—nay four—Masonic Institutions .

Before the end of 1 SS 1 they would have reached , he hoped , nearly £ 50 , 000 , and he was sure that he need make no additional remark to commend the toast to their notice , and he would couple with it the name of Bro . Storr . Bro . STORR : Most Worshipful Sir , Past iMaster and Bro . Henry Muggeridge , Preceptor of the Stability Lodge of Instruction . I thank you heartily for drinking " Prosperity to the Charities . " You know that my heart is so

full of the Chanties , so taken up in promoting their welfare , that I am proud to have the appellation of "Charity " Storr . In matter of Masonic age I am a lyoung man , but I have served some ten Stewardships . I owe all my Masonry to Bro . Muggeridge , and belong to the Neptune Lodge and Henry Muggeridge Lodge , in particular . Of

the Charities I cannot say enough if I kept you here till 12 o ' clock . No young brethren can do too much for the Charities , and I cannot thank too much the Great Architect of the Universe in doing so much for the Charities . Whenever there is not a Steward to be found in my lodge it shall not go unrepresented if it rest with me . God speed the Charities and may they prosper . ( Cheers . )

Consecration Of The Mediterranean Mark Lodge, No. 278, At Gibraltar .

CONSECRATION OF THE MEDITERRANEAN MARK LODGE , No . 278 , AT GIBRALTAR .

One of the most interesting ceremonies ever presented to the brethren on the Rock , took place at the Masonic Hall , Horse Barrack-lane , on Tuesday , the 26 th ultimo , when the Mediterranean Mark Lodge , No . 278 , was consecrated , in the presence of a large number of brethren , by VV . Bro . Thomas ,. Pulley , P . M ., P . G . S .

England , P . P . G . S . O . Hampshire and Isle of Wight , Prov . G . Sec , Berks and Oxon , & c , & c . The following brethren attended and assisted in the ceremonies : Bros ; Charles Johnson , W . M . designate ; C . W . Moore-Keys , S . W . designate ; W . F . Cottrell , J . W . designate ; T . I . Pulley , P . M . 54 , & c . ; I .

Cunningham , P . M . 41 ; E . Barker , P . M . 43 ; VV . MacLean , P . M . 3 j , S . C . ; ] . | . R . Morgan , P . M . 43 ) A . Ross , P . M . 32 S , I . C . ; E . D . Bacon , W . M . 43 ; Brostcr White , S . W . 43 . W . Glassford , P . S . W . 43 ; J . Button , l . W . 43 ; J . King , P . J . W . 43 ; J . C . Phillips , M . O . 43 ; j . Mclncrncy , S . O . 43 ; G . Lane , J . O . 43 ; C . E . Mortimer , J . . ( Broadley );