Consecration Of The Southwell Lodge, No. 1405.

CONSECRATION OF THE SOUTHWELL LODGE , No . 1405 .

This Iodge , to be held at the Scaracen ' s Head Inn , Southwell , was inaugurated by consecration on Thursday , the rSth . ' inst . Amongst the - brethren present were Bros . Evelyn Hardolph Harcourt Vernon , Prov . G . Chaplain ; John

Charles Nixon , Prov . G . S . W . ; Samuel Richard Parr Shilton , Prov . G . J . W . ; Frederick William Parsons , Prov . G . D C . ; John Comyn , P . Prov . G . S . W . ; Henry Alfred Attenborough , P . Prov . G . S . B .: Thomas William Robinson , P . Prov . G . S . B . ; Matthew Vowles , P . Prov . G . P . ; Richard

Fitzhugh , Prov . G . P . ; panics Turpin , Prov . G . O . ; Charles George Wragg , _ W . M ., 411 ; Charles Huthwaite , 411 , 402 ; Joseph Thompson ;' 411 ; John Taylor , 47 ; William Michael Rook , ' 47- ; William Henry Gee , 47 ; John Cumiriing Bauwell , 47 ; John Samuel Dobson , 47 ; John Varley , 47 ; John Wartnaby , 47 ; Henry

. Glover , 47 ; Edward Tmley , 108 s \ ¦ The brethren having-entered and proceeded in procession three times round , Bro . J . C . Nixon , the Consecrating Officer- appointed by the Provincial Grand Master ) took the chair , and having appointed his officers ' pro tern ., he ojiened the same in ancient form .

Brother S . R . P . Shilton then informed him ' that the brethren then present desired to be formed in a new lodge , and that a petition had been duly jiresented , which he proceeded to read , and which the W . Grand Master had approved , and granted a warrant in consequence of it , which he now presented .

The warrant having been reatl , and been ap-] irovi'd , " and declared valid and constitutional , ¦ liro . Nixon then took the warrant in his hand , add requested the brethren lo approve or disapprove the officers nominated therein , which Was unanimously approved .

¦ The ceremony of consecration then- proceeded , ; rli tlie implements of masonry . being ' covered with- ' white , and the brethren kneeling , the Prov . G . Chajilain gave the prepara ion prayer , and anthem , " Hail , Universal Lord . " The lodge tools were then examined , and were found

complete . Incense was then scattered over the lodge , and the grand honours given . Tlie usual procession then took place , tlie Masters and Wardens carrying thc vessels of corn , wine , and oil ; these elements of consecration were then sprinkled ujion the lodge in ancient form .

The Provincial Grand Chaplain then gave tne jir . iyer < 'f consecration , and tlv lodge was duly dedicated according to ancient form . The I'lilge was then formed , and opened according to ancient custom by Bro . J . (" .. Nixon . The lodge was raised to the Fellow Craft degree , and afterwards to the third desrree . All tlie

brethren below the rank of Installed Master haying retired , a board of Installed Masters was ojiened , ai . d Hro . S . R . P . Shilton was presented at the ;*¦ C ' _ :- !; ' ! : \ s the Master designated in the warrant Hi iv installed Master of this new lodge , Bro .

i \ ivn . iviii : i . 'king that Bro . Shilton was P . M . of . - : i . ral indues , duly installed him in the chair . ¦ Tiie board of Installed Masters was then closed by the . newly installed Master . The lodge was fhen opened in the third degree , and the W . M s :. li ; : ed b y Master Masons . ' The W . M . then appointed ids officers . Thc Iodge was then

lowered to second degree , and the W . M . saluted by Fellow Craft :- , ' ihe lodge was lowered to the firs * , degree , and the W . M . saluted by Masons in t ' e-t degree . Ihe W . Master 'proposed si :, joining members , and nine for initiation , which v -.. re seconded by the various , brethren presen ' . 1 lie lodge was then closed in atieient form - with solemn prayer .

oiiuAKrAsT . —E : ps's COCOA . —GHATF . FI'L AND COM rn iTisc . — " liv a thorough Knowledge oi tlie natut . il laws « h :- " iivein | i : c i >[ ier : ; tii ) i ::- "if ( KecMion and nutiiliun . and

I'V . 1 Tared ;! . vpplaMHen of the fine- propciticr- of ivell-sHecteil t ~ :. ' .-, Mr . r :. ppS h- ;; piouuH our b'Mi . - . ' jst tables with a i ]~!; T ~ . '; - ! Y-u \ - tvo'ii' : I ' r ' . 'i . nn- c v . - . ich -. ii ; , v : n \ c ve . m . M . y k'J-.:. iiS Lilj v . we-,, i ivl . i ^ Cet-U . * . U «! aiU , tAi ^ , l .. '

Presentation To Bro, The Rev. C. J.Martyn, P.G . Chaplain, I.P.M., No. 224.

PRESENTATION TO BRO , THE REV . C . J . MARTYN , P . G . CHAPLAIN , I . P . M ., No . 224 .

Masonry for a long number of ycars appears to have undergone many vicissitudes in the town and neighbourhood of Sudbury , and- it is

therefore with jileasure that we hail anything like , its permanent resuscitation . We believe the first lodge was established in the town about 200 years ago , but there are no authenticated records of its transactions now in existence . However ,

there was a very good lodge established some years since in Clare , which was removed to thc Rose and Crown Hotel , Sudbury , but owing to the liikewarmness ofthe members and a lack of proper " working , " it in time ceased to exist ,

and was struck off the rolls by the Grand Lodge of England—no meetings liaving been held for years . Many years since there was also a lodge held at Long Melford , —there are still Freemasons alive who were initiated there : the books

ot this Iodge were at one period in the possession of the late Mr . John Purr , and contained some magnificent specimens of caligraphy , —the writing being quite equal to copperplate , with the flourishes and initial letters , so much admired in

those days . It is to be regretted that these books were not preserved . About five years since a few "good and true" Masons met , and after overcoming many obstacles , obtained " a warrant " to open the Stour Valley Lodge ( No . 1224 ) , the

meetings being held at the private lodge room at Mr . Bridgmaii ' s , bookseller , Market Hill . This stood its ground for over two years , but misfortunes overtook the W . M , and thc Immediate Past Master , so that there was every indication

that the lodge would lie broken up , but a few of the other officers stuck manfull y to the work , and as it fortunately hajipencd that the rector of Melford , the Kev . C . J . . Martyn , was thru acting as Grand Chajilain of England , and not only

distinguished by his position , btit well known for his love of Alasonry , and active benevolence , it was determined to apply to him to assist the brethren in their distress . This he at once most courteously acceded to , and the members of the

craft were once again in the hei ght of prosperity , Bro . Martyn being elected to fill the . Worshi p ful Master ' s chair , which he has done for two ycars in succession . It was not onl y as a brother Mason that the Rev . C . J . Martyn proved

himself a true friend to the lodge , but by his kind and cheery demeanour , and his invariable courtesy he quickly endeared himself to every member . On his retirement from office , the brethren determined to show their appreciation of his

valuable , sevices , by jiresenting him with a Past Master ' s jewel . This , which was supplied b y Mr . Joseph F . Hills , jeweller , tlie present W . M ., is a most handsome specimen of the goldsmith ' s art . The Past Master ' s emblem , the square , is

beautifully chased , with a pendant , ou which is represented , masonically , the figure of the fortyseventh Problem of the first book of Euclid , 'ihe ribband jiortion contains the name and number of the lodge in relief burnished , also the arms of

the borough of Sudbury , hcraldically emblazoned in colours , and finely enamelled . It also bears the following engraved in-cription : — " Presented to the Very Worshipful Brother , the Rev . C . J . Martyn , Past Grand Chaplain of England , by his bretluen of the Stour Valley

Lodge , No . 1224 , August 16 th , 1872 . " Aceompan ) ing the jewel was the following addriss , written on vellum , most artistically illuminated in colours , by Br . i . G . Washington Brownlow , an artist of some eminence , and a member of the lud-v : —

"To the Ve ; y Worshijiful . Bro . the Rev . C . J . Martyn . P . G . C . of England , and Worshi pful P . M . of Stour Valley Lodge , No . 122 4 . —Dear Sir and Brother—We , the undersign , d officers

and members of the Stour Valley Lodge of Ancient , free and Accepted Masons , avail , ourselves of the occasion of your retirement from the chair at the close of . this , your second year of office , and to hereby express ta

; ...-: ' n c-. t . v . l - <¦<' : ; ; v ;> e -A : :-. - > ¦ ,. ¦ -:. V -M , ¦ -v ; v i 1 ¦ -ilir . ' - ; . ¦ . . i ' . < . ' . le' :-. " . ., ! ' . ' . ! ., ; :. ; -, ! , ' - . i ;;[ - ,. ; ' , ,. the AillClKiS . ee . u goL'J iu-i ; ig to viiiOil ulo ^ v

Presentation To Bro, The Rev. C. J.Martyn, P.G . Chaplain, I.P.M., No. 224.

duties in your hands have been ; eve ' r associated : On behalf of the lodge , we haye . first to express our regret at your necessary retirement , and to assure you that you take with ybu ' our hi g hest respect and esteem . We thank you-for-your kindness in coming to the assistance , of the

lodge " when it had so much need of yjur aid . We . gratefully- thank you for the very kind tokens of yoiir regard expressed by the gifts you have so kindly 'presented to the lodge , for your jiromjit and unfailing attendance to its duties , no matter what obstacle and distance intervened

for the great interest and cheerful concurrence you ever evinced in all our jiroceedings , and finally we exjiress our thanks for you continuous , energetic , and zealous support , to which the success and jiresent prosperity of the Lodge is mainly to be attributed . Individually , we feel

that we are deeply indebted to you for the many personal acts of kindness and courtesy extended to all and each of us whenever an ojijiortunity was afforded you of so doing . Our regret at yonr leaving the chair is softened by the remembrance of your assurance that we shall neither

lose your presence among us , nor your interest in the future welfare of . our Lodge , but that we shall still be able on all occasions to avail ourselves of your ready aid and kindly council . As a slight token of our esteem and regard , and appreciation of your valuable services , we beg your

acccjitance of the accompanying jewel , which we hope you will many years live to wear , and that the great Architect of the Universe may long continue to preserve you and all yours in health , happiness , and prosperity , is the united and hearty wish of ns all . "

The Iodge was held in the new lodge-room at the Literary Institution , where besides those who signed the address were present , Bro . Stoor , P . M .: Bro . Postle . I . G . 1008 ; Bro . Long and Bro . J . J . Harding , South Suffolk . The Lodge having been opened in the lirst degree by Rro .

the Kev . C . J . Martyn , P . G . C . of England and W . M . ; the ballot was then taken for Bro . Lamb , 1008 . as a joining member ; who was unanimously elected . " Lodge was then opened in the second degree , and Bro . James was jiassed . The W . M . elect Bro . J . S . Hills , P . J . G . W .

for Suffolk , was presented for installation , and having answered the usual questions was declared to be duly qualified for the office . The lod ° « was then opened in the third degree , and the brethren below the degree of Past Master retired , and the Board of Installed Masters installed Bro .

Hills in the Worshipful Master ' s chair , accord in" - to ancient form ( the installing officer being Bro . Martyn ) , and he was duly proclaimed and saluted in the north , south , east ., and west . The new W . M . then proceeded lo appoint and invest his officer as follows . —Bro . J . T . B . trker , S . W . ; Bro . F .

Wheeler , J . W . ; Bro . G . H . Grimwood , S . D ; Bro . W . H . Smith , J . D . ; Bro . H . Welham . Sec . ; Bro . Charles Emerson , Trea . ; Bro . A . O . Steed , Org . ; Bro . R . Davis , I . G . j Bro . II . SI 10 II , Ty ler , llic address to W . M ., Wardens , and I ' n-thri n was given n . iosf impressively hy the

installing Master . Before closing the Lodge tlio W . M .-said , he- has a most pleasing duty to perform in presenting the P . M . with a jewel and emblazoned address . Quoting from a Masonic writer , we are told that to be invested with jewel of a W . M ., as an emblem of its office .

is the highest lionour that the lodge can confer upon any of its members . So it is in a certain sense : but as the authorities of the Grand Lotlge permit the wearing of honorary jewels , in my estimation the hi g hest honour that can be conferred , is not the investiture of

an untried Worshipful Master with the insignia of" his office , but is it to be fcund in the lodge decorating the breast of a worthy and Worshi pful Past Master who can perforin the important duties appertaining to the chair of the lod ge with zeal , courtesy , integrity and assiduity , so

as ju .-tly to have earned the rcsjicet and approbation of the brethren ; one who spared neither time nor trouble in promoting the study of 0111 ritual , and who , like some of the Past Masters of this lodge , including our ' . P . M ., have bv their

conduct and judgment , won the gratitude and bri . thei l y aJfLctioii-of ail who have winked under 1 iii r 1 - . if ' : ; . ;•!(! ¦ ' .-. .- ' ¦ ip . a . ii . 'Y-. ; ' io . -. i chink , canro : I 'un , i : v i e :. ( i . i ..- " ,- ! e-l ^ e-ii tie .-ri by dt'Cu ' tlting tiie U- ciiiL uf iucii a j / a ^ t Jviastcr , with the