Consecration Of The Sir Walter St. John Lodge, No. 2513.

carried out in the Iodge . He and the other Grand Officers wished them every prosperity . The CONSECRATING OFFICER next ca'led upon the Ch . iplain for the benefit of prayer . The founders having signified their approval of the officers nimed in tho warranl , the CHAFI . SIN delivered the follosving oration :

One of the great objects of our Fraternity , svhether operative or speculative-, has alsvays been to live and svork , not for self , but for others . It is , therefore , with special pleasure that we svelcome to-day a new lodge , founded by men svho are , or who have been , engaged in a svork svhich is specially stamped svith this Alasonic principle : the svork of giving to the children of the masses an education svhich svill teach them their duty to God and to man . A bishop of the English

Church , preaching at St . Paul's Cathedral in 1810 . horrified his hearers bv telling them that a large majority of the children of the English poor svere grosving up svithout any religious education . At first the public svould hardly believe the s t atement , but the foundation ofthe National Society in the following year led to the collection of statistics , which proved that the statement was in no degree exaggerated ; The College of St . John ' s , Battersea , svith svhich this lodge is so closely

connected , has been one of the principal means of altering a state of things which svas a disgrace to a Christian country . It is impossible to over-estimate the ejuiet , unobstrusive svork svhich has nosv been done for many years by those , svho from this and other Training Colleges , have gone out into the'svorld , on a svork svhich is in es'ery sense a great and noble one , the svork of svinning children lo God . It is a svork svhich can only be done by religious teachers . It is a svork distinctly

in accord with every principle of our Order .. The English soldier and sailor has done his duty in a manner unsurpassed by the armies and navies of any other country , because he has knosvn the meaning of the svords truth and duty . Where have the masses of the English had the opportunity of learning svhat these tsvo words , " duty " and " truth " are , and svhat they mean . ** I honestly believe that nine-tenths of the teaching svhich has secured so fair a fame for the English

nation is osving to the work done in our national schools , and the svork , thank God , is still going on . Be it said to the honour of the English teachers that children , although coming from homes in many of svhich they have very little religious training , yet still are welcomed in our schools . We see in them the rough ashlar svhich sve have to make , God helping us , into a stone worthy of His acceptance . Men svho have done , and are daily doing this , do svell to come into our Order , and we svish God-speed to-night to their nesv Alasonic " home . "

The ceremonv , which included several anthems , was concluded , and the lodge ' solemnly dedicated and constituted . . The Consecrating Officer next inducted into the chair the W . M , designate , Bro . V . T . Murche , who invested his officers as follows : Bros . J . J . White , P . M ., S . W . ; J . Moore-Smith , J . W . ; R . F . Macdonald , Treas . ; ( he Rev . St . Clare Hill , Sec . j G . Collar , S . D . ; T . E . Dixter , J . D , ; A . C . Rogers , LG . ; and Whiteman , Tyler .

. The WoRSiiiri'i'i . M SSTER rose , and in eulogistic terms proposed ihe Consecrating Officers honorary members of the lodge , svhich ss * as most graciously accepted in the name of all by Bro . E . Lctchsvorth , Grand Sec . Propositions of seven candidates for initiation svere handed in to the Secretary for the next meeting .

The banquet ended , the WORSUIPFI ' . MASTKR in most appropriate terms , specially dilating upon the auspicious event of the birth of the young Prince , gave the lo )* al and Masonic toasts , svhich were received right loyally . In-proposing the toast of "The Grand Officers , " the WORSHIPFUL

MASTER took the opportunity of acknowledging the uniform courtesy and consideration he had received from the Grand Secretary in arranging the preliminaries for that meeting . He also publicly thanked Bro . Nairne , P . G . D ., for the great interest he had from the first taken in the projected nesv Iodge , and the material help he had given the founders in carrying their project to fruition .

Suitable allusion was also made to the appearance , for the first lime in that capacity , of Bros . F . Hilton , A . G . P . No two appointments to Grand Lodge honours could have been better merited , or have given greater satisfaction than those of Bros . Nairne and H lion .

In reply ; Bro . li . LETCHWORTH , G . Secretary , said he very deeply regretted that their Past Grand Chaplain , Bro . the Rev . Brownri gg , svas obliged to leave , for he was such an admirable speaker . Nevertheless , he thanked the brethren for the most hearty reception of the toast of the Grand Officers . Really they alsvays received such kindness wherever thev svent ,

that it was a pleasure to perform any ceremony . In their Pro Grand Master , Lord Lathom , they had a most ardent worker , and also in the Deputy Grand Master , the Marl of Mount Edgcumbe , a most enthusiastic Mason . All the Grand Officers appreciated the position they were p laced in , and nothing gave them greater pleasure than to do their respective duties in return for the honour done them in being elected as Grand Officers .

Bro . NAIRNE said he was very gratified in being called upon to reply , as nothing had given him greater pleasure than to forsvard the application lor a warrant for the lodge . The toast of " The Consecrating Officers " followed . The W . M . said after thanking the Grand Secretary and those distinguished brethren svho had assisted in the ceremony , remembered lhat Bro . Letchworth in a conversation with him had said that he looked upon the consecration ceremony as

a most solemn service , and svas unwilling to have anything done that could detract in the smallest sv . iyfrom its solemnity . The Grand Secretary had , in his osvn person , and by his osvn bearing and conduct of the ceremony , been the best exponent of his own exalted viesvs . The Consecrating Officers had that day brought that nesv lodge into existence , and it must be the part of the founders so to manage their household in the future as never to cause those officers to blush for the work they had done .

Bro . LETCHWORTH returned his warmest thanks on behalf of the Consecrating Officers whicii had been presented in such exceedingly kind terms , specially on behalf of Bro . Brownrigg , svhose absence he regretled , as his heart was most cordiall y and sympathetically given to the work connected with St . John ' s College . On behalf of himself he had no greater pleasure than in performing the duties of consecration of a lodge connected with that institution for his early years were spent in connection with it , and his father ' s

dearest friend was the former Principal . Before sitting down , the Grand Secretary said a most pleasing duty devolved upon him to present the toast of "The W . M ., " whom he was greaily pleased in have inducted into the chair , he having already most ably filled the chair of VV . M . of the Duke of Albany Lodge . He congratulated most heaitil y the lodge in having a brother so well able to rule and govern during the mosl critical part of the history of the lodge .

In reply , Bro . MCRCIIE said : Very Worshipful Bro . Secretary , —I scarce know how to sufficiently thank 3 'ou for such flattering remarks . 1 certainl y am going to do the very best I can for the lodge . The Grand Secret iry has said very great things abDUt me , and I shall be glad if the future bears out all that he has said . It will be my endeavour to so work the helm , and it

Consecration Of The Sir Walter St. John Lodge, No. 2513.

will be my proud privilege so to steer the vessel , that my s'ery good second in command can bear it on even more successfully . He most cordially thanked the Grand Secretary for such kind expressions towards him . The toast of " The Visilors " was most cordial Iv presented , and responded io by B-os VINCENT . W . M . 1 O 41 ; BANNISTER , W . M . 1963 ; OSTERSTOCK , VV . M . 2266 ; H A RI'KR . VV . M . 2 lS 2 ; TlieiRNHILL , W . M . I 329 J MORI'HY , Deputy I ) i-t . G . M . Argentine Republic ; and ROE , P . M . 1641 .

The WORSHIPFUL MASTER next gave the toast of " The Officers of the Lodge , " whom he said he was very proud of . He most heartily thanked them all for their able assistance rendered in the formation of the lodge . The whole of the officers replied , pledging to do their utmost for the lodge .

The musical arrangements were most ably carried out by Bro . Harper , W . M . 2182 , assisted by Bros . R . J . Voisey , R . J . Vincent , Hastsvell , Collar , VVakerwell , and Rankin . Bro . Harper presided at the piano . The lodge was furnished by Bro . George Kenning .

Consecration Of The Trinity Royal Arch Chapter, No. 254. Coventry,

CONSECRATION OF THE TRINITY ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER , No . 254 . COVENTRY ,

The above chapter was duly consecrated on Thursday , the 21 st ult ., at the Queen ' s Hotel , Coventry . There was a large attendance of Royal Arch companions of the province and from Staffordshire . Comp . J . T . Collins , Prov . G . H ., Past A . G . D . C . of England , svas the Consecrating Officer . There was a large number of companions present . The PROV . G . H . addressed the companions on the nature of the meeting and expressed a hope that as there were three lodges in Coventry the

new chapter would be well supported , especially as it had for founders companions svho took such interest in Royal Arch Masonry , and who were such experts at the ritual . The companions of the nesv chapter were arranged in order . The Prov . Grand Scribe E ., Comp . F . G . SWINUKN , P . / .., read the petition .

The Prov . Grand Reg ., Comp . BOODINGTON . P . / .., read the charter . The CONSECRATING OFFICER inquired if the companions approved of the officers who were nominated in the charter to preside over them . * They t \ g > ified their assent in the usual manner . Comp . the Rev . TRE \ OR PARKINS , M . A ., P . P . G . J ., delivered the oratian as follows :

It cannot fail to be a subject of deep satisfaction to all the members of our Order that a fresh centre of Alasonic activity is to be inaugurated to-day , and I am sure that I am but giving expression to the sentiment svhich is common to all present here , when I fondly anticipate a bright feature of- much usefulness for the chapter we are nosv about to consecrate . By a recent alteration in our Regulations , as you are perhaps aware , a Alaster Mason of one month ' s standing is now qualified for election as a companion of our Order , and , svhile I hiisitite to hastily

deprecate a change which promises to add largely to the number of our recruits , f would most strongly urge the avoidance of all excessive haste ; while , therefore , we may freely invite all Master Masons of proved worth to join our ranks , no desire for mere numerical increase should lead us to sacrifice that higher standard of moral and Masonic excellence which has thus far been our aim . You will hardly expect me in the short period to svhich my remarks must be confined to go deeply into the history of our Order , and trace the gradual development of the more

speculative and higher branches of Masonry ; but there is one special point in the nature of Royal Arch Masonry svhich differentiates it svidely from the previous Degrees , and lends to it , if possible , a still more exalted position in our estimation . Not to dogmatise too strongly , I would say that , while the three first Degrees treat of man ' s duties mainly in regard to his felloivmen , Arch Masonry brings into greater prominence the duties we osve to God ; and , while the former are the guide of social conduct , the latter teaches man his true relation to lehovah

and his obligation to serve Him and to love Him svith all his heart and mind and strength . In this Degree our primary object is the worship of Almighty God , and it is our relation to Him which gives its sanction to our conduct towards our fellowmen . The life of every man may be viesved from tsvo aspects—from the one he is a citizen of this world ; from the other he is the adopted child of God's mercy . Each viesv represents a portion of man ' s nature , and the higher and more spiritual side of our being is too apt to be forgotten . In the din and clash of the

modern struggle for existence , our spiritual nature is apt to be neglected ; we forget that man does not live by bread alone ; that we are all God ' s offspring , immortal beings , sent into this svorld ' s training school to be fitted for a higher existence ; not mere hucksters in the market-place of life . * It is this viesv of life and life ' s responsibility svhich this Supreme Degree appears to me to so specially illustrate and enforce . Will you allow me to commend to your liberal sympathies the Warwickshire Pupils' Aid and Benevolent Fund , for which your alms will be solicited . To aid those of our brethren svho have suffered from the stings and

arrows of outrageous fortune , to lighten the dark lot of the widow , to provide for the due training of the orphan , lo lighten , as far as may be , the weary burdens of undeserved poverty , to rob the cup of suffering of something of its bitterness , to soothe the cradle of declining age , and to equip the young lor the battlefield of life . These , surely , are ubjecls svhich need no svords of mine to commend them to the sympathy of the companions of our Order , svho , by aiding their fellosvs , will best illustrate their devotion to that beneficent and loving M ester , svhose divine compassion we can thus faintly imitate , and svhose tender mercies are over all His svorks .

This was followed by the hymn of invocation , and the dedication prayer by Comp . the Rev .-TREVOR PARKINS , M . A ., P . P . G . J . The CONSECRATING OFFICER delivered the invocation , and the usual ceremony of consecration was proceeded with , the work being highly appreciated . The D . of C , (' omp . Jas . Ro iker , P . Z . 587 , was ably supported by Comp . A . J . Lawrence , P . Z . 502 , Prov . A . G . D . C , who gave every assistance that was needful .

During the singing of the closing hymn , the collection was made in aid of the Warwickshire Pupils' Aid and Benevolent Fund , and resulted in £ 5 17 s . 6 d . being handed to that fund . The musical arrangements were ably carried out by Comp . F . H . Bell , P . Z . y . * -8 , Prov . G . Org . The Principals of the new chapter are Comps . A . E . Fridlander , P . Z .,

P . P . G . ] ., M . E . Z . ; Dr . K . I . ynes , P . Z ., Prov . G . S . B .. H . ; and W . K Gjate , Prov . A . G . S . E ., J . ; and the officers * . Comps . F . G . Swinden , P . Z •yS / , M . E . Z . 739 , Prov . G . S . E ., I . P . Z . ; John Astley , P . Z . 1 ( 130 , 5 . E . ; Dr ( J . Davidson , S . N . ; M . J . Davies , P . Z . 1 ( 130 , P . S . ; Rev . Canon Beau mont , P . Z . 1630 , D . C ; Major VV . F . VVyley , Treas . ; and G . J . C Graham , ist A . S .

The Prosincial Grand Chapter being closed , was followed by a sery recherche dinner , which the Provincial Grand Officers , members , and sisitors partook , and brought a most interesting ceremony to a close ,