Consecration Of The Guelph Chapter, No. 1685.

of the M . E . Z ., " who was well known to the companions present . He had only had the pleasure of making Comp . Shurmur ' s acquaintance within the last few weeks , but he hoped that acquaintance might ripen into friendship . He had heard of Comp . Shurmur ' s Masonic achievements , and thought it would be impossible to have found a companion better fitted to take charge of the chanter .

Comp . WM . SHURMUR , M . E . Z ., in response , said he fully appreciated the great honour and distinction conferred upon him by the founders in selecting him as M . E . Z ., and was extremely grateful to the Grand Scribe E . for the cordial way in which he had proposed the toast . He hoped to prove his gratitude by using every endeavour to promote unity and concord in the chapter , and by making it worthy of the Royal name it bore .

" The H . and J . " was next proposed by the M . E . Z . He regretted the H . had been called away unavoidably , but he had found a capital substitute in Comp . George Graveley , P . Z ., whom he might almost say was the father of the chapter . To Comp . Cutchey , J ., must be ascribed the inception of

the chapter . It appeared there were many Masons in the Guelph Lodge desirous of becoming Royal Arch Masons , and they thought it desirable there should be a chapter connected with their own lodge . Comp . Cutchey intimated that wish to him , and having spoken to Comp . Graveley , the idea was now an accomplished fact .

Comps . G . GRAVELEY , P . Z ., acting H ., and CUTCHEY , J ., replied , after which " The Visitors " was given in cordial terms . Comp . H . LE STRANGE , A . G . S ., said he was very glad in the very last days of his year of office to have witnessed the inauguration of this chapter . It was not often in a Masonic career that one had an opportunity of attending such a ceremony . Royal Arch Masons flattered themselves with

some show of reason that they were the pick of the Craft . They were necessarily those who had passed years in the work of Freemasonry , and they might hope that those who joined were the brethren who had the principles of the Craft most seriously at heart . He felt sure this chapter had before it a long and distinguished career of usefulness . He would make a small suggestion , if allowed , which in his own province had been readily received . The M . E . Z . had received that day at the hands of the

principal executive officer of Freemasonry—the new Grand S . E ., whom he was proud to be present to support—the new charter . It seemed to him that it would be a happy thing if the M . E . Z . and his successors in office were to endorse their names on the back of that warrant , and Comp . Shurmur would thus head the list of what would probably be a long line of distinguished Masons , and it would become an object of -worth y ambition for every Mason to inscribe his name on the muster roll of honour .

Comps . Dr . DUNBAR , W . D . CHURCH , DONALD CAMPBELL , and HALL BROWNE also responded . Other toasts followed , and the proceedings , which had been throughout of a very pleasant and enjoyable nature , were brought to a conclusion by the Janitor ' s toast . Comp . F . Butler , Org ., presided at the harmonium in the chapter , and after banquet a selection of music was ably carried out .

Consecration Of The Weyside Mark Lodge, No. 442.

CONSECRATION OF THE WEYSIDE MARK LODGE , No . 442 .

The consecration of this Mark lodge took place on Monday , the 25 th ult ., at the Masonic Hall , Woking Station . The ceremony was performed by R . W . Bro . C . F . Matier , P . G . W ., G . Sec , assisted by Bros . S . G . Kirchhoffer , P . G . O ., as S . W . ; L . G . Gordon Robbins , P . G . O ., as J . W . ; Rev . C . J . Martyn , P . G . Chap ., as Chap . ; R . Berridge , G . D . C , as D . C . ; and P . A . Scratchley , P . G . D ., as l . G . The beautiful ritual was rendered

with a smoothness and impressiveness worthy of all praise , and the Consecrating Officer , ably supported by his colleagues , may fairly be said to have excelled himself . The founders of the new lodge who were , with one exception , present , were Bros . Lieut .-Col . A . H . Bircham , G . Stwd ., W . M . designate ; A . H . Bowles , P . P . G . O ., S . W . designate ; T . Wakley , jun ., J . W . designate ; Col . Noel Money , C . B ., C T . Tyler , F . D . Deare , F . Flood ,

and C . F . Passmore , P . G . Org . There were also present Bros . C . Hammerton , Dep . Prov . G . M . ; Richard Eve , P . G . M . O . ; R . Clowes , G . O . ; R . Clowes , 431 ; A . Clinton , 407 ; J . A . Lancaster , W . M . elect 407 ! R . A . B . Preston , S . W . 3 61 ; G . Cousins , W . M . 407 ; P . H . Clisbv , Prov . G . Std . Br . ; E . J . Mills , G . Tyler ; T . J . Railing , P . G . D . ; T . E . ' Barton ,

H . C . Leigh Bennett , C M . Hogg , Gilbert White , F . C . Gayton , R . Mossop , A . W . R . Sowman , A . J . Howlin , Ralph Ncvill , and W . W . Lee . An emergency meeting was first held , by dispensation , at which Bro . A . H . Bowles , P . P . J . CO ., presided , and advanced 10 candidates to the Degree of Mark Master .

The Grand Officers then entered in procession , and the Dep . Prov . G . Master having explained the regrettable absence of the Prov . G . Master through ill-health , asked Bro . C . F . Matier , P . G . W ., G . Sec , to take the chair and consecrate the lodge . A hymn was sung , and the CONSECRATING OFFICER , addressing the brethren , said they had met together on that occasion to perform a ceremony

which was most interesting , in the first place , because it was very rarely performed , and secondly , because it was an earnest of the desire of the founders to promote the interests of the Mark Degree . Many of the founders had attained high excellence in their lodges , and from the zeal they had shown towards the Institution , there was every prospect this new lodge would obtain high and honourable rank .

r I he founders signified their approval of the officers designated in the warrant , after which an eloquent oration was delivered by Bro . Rev . C . J . Martyn , P . G . Chaplain . The ceremony was proceeded with , and the lodge was solemnly dedicated and constituted .

Bro . A . H . BOWLES , P . P . G . O ., then assumed the chair , and having personally thanked the Grand Secretary for his courtesy and kindness during the formation of the lodge , and presented him with a jewel , proceeded to install Bro . Lieut .-Col . A . H . Bircham , G . Stwd ., as W . M . This was accomplished in due form , and the following officers were invested , Bro . T . Wakley , jun ., J . W . designate , being unavoidably absent : Bros . A . H .

Consecration Of The Weyside Mark Lodge, No. 442.

Bowles , S . W . ; F . Flood , M . O . ; C . T . Tyler , S . O . ; J . E . Barton , J . O Col . Noel Money , C . B ., Treas . ; H . C Leigh Bennett , R . of M . ; F . £ )' Deare , Sec ; CM . Hogg , S . D . ; J . H . Crofts , J . D . ; C F . Passmore Org . ; Gilbert White , l . G . ; F . C Gayton , Stwd . ; and J . Wigg , Tyler ' . ; The Deputy Prov . G . M . and the Consecrating Officers were unanimousl y elected honorary members on the proposition of the W . M . A Committee . was appointed to frame by-laws , and the lodge was closed . After banquet the customary list of toasts was proceeded with .

Bro . R . BERRIDGE , G . D . C , responded for "The Grand Officers , " and said he was quite sure at that late hour he should be consulting the wishes of all by simply returning hearty thanks for the kind and cordial manner in which the toast was proposed and received . The WORSHIPFUL MASTER next gave " The Consecrating Officer . " He said he need hardly remind those present of the impressive manner in which

the ceremony of consecration had been performed . From the manner in which Bro . Matier had performed the ceremony on that occasion , and the manner in which he had performed it on other occasions , it was well known that he always rendered it with a very great deal of dignity and impressive - ness . If that was a truism , and he uttered it as such , those present could add their testimony that the consecration had been done in a way second to

none . He considered it a great kindness for Bro . Matier to come down there , for he knew the many calls upon him as Grand Secretary . It was not alone the Secretarial work , but Bro . Matier had many duties devolving upon him and work to be carried forward which arose from his position as Grand Secretar }' . Wherever Bro . Matier went , the remembrance of the way in which the ceremonies he performed were conducted was always a matter of

congratulation to the many lodges he visited . He ( the W . M . ) returned the Grand Secretary sincere thanks for his attendance , for he felt their lodge had been begun under happy auspices , and the members would try their best in the future to act up to the tenets laid down that evening , and endeavour to copy the excellent manner in which the Grand Secretary undertook his portion of the ceremony .

Bro . C . F . MATIER , P . G . W ., G . Sec , said that in rising to respond to the toast which had been so gracefully proposed by their newly-installed W . M ., he was forcibly reminded of the very large amount of responsibility which devolved as well upon the W . M . as upon the Consecrating Officer . The Consecrating Officer was in the position of the First Lord of the Admiralty who had launched a new ship . The ship proceeded on her

voyage conquering and to conquer . Their lodge had beet ; launched with every assurance and every prospect of success , with a splendid captain and a gallant crew of officers , some of whom were so highly accomplished that they were able to take the captain ' s place and do as well as he could . It was to a Consecrating Officer a great pleasure to know that such was the case , and a pride to him to know that the officers appointed were every one worthy

of their position . To return to the toast of his health , might he ask what he should have done had the brethren who so kindly assisted him been absent . Bros . Kirchhoffer and Gordon Robbins , as Wardens , had greatly assisted him , as also had Bro . Rev . C . J . Martyn , who was not only P . G . Chaplain , but also Deputy Prov . Grand Master and Grand Superintendent in the Royal Arch , and also facile princeps Grand Orator at a consecration .

They also had the pleasure of the services of his dear old friend and fellow colleague , Bro . Berridge , the G . D . C , without whose help his services would fall very short . They also had Bro . Scratchley , an old Grand Officer , and Bro . Passmore as Organist . In the name of those who had assisted him he thanked the W . M . heartily and cordially for the honour done him . He had next to give them a toast , which was " The Health of the Worshipful Master

and Prosperity to the Weyside Mark Lodge . " The W . M . had won his spursin another lodge , being a P . M . of a lodge to which they looked forward as capable of great things in the future—the Onslow Lodge—and if only he did as well for this new lodge as he had done for that , when it came to his turn to surrender the gavel with which he had been entrusted on the present occasion , they would say as that lodge said , and welcome and heartily

appreciate his good work and many services . The Weyside Lodge had been launched with every prospect of success , but it rested with the members to a great extent to make it so by supporting the W . M ., and admitting only those who were good and true , for it was much easier to admit a member than to get rid of him afterwards . He saw in this lodge great capabilities , and in the Worshipful Master every assurance of all that was good .

Bro . Lieut .-Col . A . H . BIRCHAM , G . Stwd ., W . M ., in reply , said he was much obliged to Bro . Matier for having proposed the toast in such kindly terms , because it showed friendliness from those who lived in high places in the Mark Masonic world to those more lowly . He hoped the remarks respecting himself were true , but still he thought they must recollect that the elements of success in this lodge were far beyond their W . M . The \ V . M >

of a lodge was a great creative power , and ought to be a man who had their respect and would remember there were two sides to the Masonic question —trie Masonic side and the social side . He was one of those who believed in Masonry generally , but especially in Mark Masonry—the Charitable side . He remembered being made a Mark Mason 24 years ago , and would tell them that his earlier connection with Mark Masonry was a waste , because

he was not taught and told what a brother in Masonry should do . He had noticed a tendency in many lodges to conceal and not advertise the fact of the great Masonic Charities , and he believed there were a great many men who joined Masonic lodges whose Masonry might end with their initiations , because they did not know the great Masonic Charities . He would only put before this lodge as a new one that their great duty was to remember that

Charity was the first and great cardinal point of Masonry , and they coulo not be considered to be doing their duty , especially as Mark Masons , » they forgot that great principle . He hoped this lodge , commencing this year , would always be remembered as one which never forgot the Mark Masonic Charity . He thanked them for the way his health had been received and would pass on to propose another toast , that of " The Prov . Grand Master , Deputy Prov . Grand Master , and the rest of the Prov . Grand Oflicers , Master

Present and Past . " They deplored the absence of the Prov . Grand and deeply regretted the cause . They had had the Deputy Prov . Grand Master present with them during the ceremony in the lodge . Anyl ' ! S > more graceful than the letter written by the Prov . Grand Master announcing his inability to attend through ill-health he could not imagine , and he vva jj certain Bro . Sir Francis Burdett would have been present if possible . A present would join in drinking his health heartily , as well as that of t " Prov . Grand Officers . ,

Bro . GORDON ROBBINS , Prov . G . Treas ., acknowledged the toast , other toasts having been duly honoured , the Tyler's toast closed the P ccedings . , Bro . Passmore , P . G . Org ., presided at the organ in the lodge and a directed the musical arrangements after the banquet .