Savage Club Lodge, No. 2190.

standing there that night as the representative of those men , it was an honour to be appreciated , and he should appreciate it as long as he had life or reason left , but that very feeling forced upon him a sense , an innate sense of his own unworthiness . But if the brethren would be satisfied with his best endeavours , if they would

accept the best that he could do for them , if by working for their best interests in every way as far as God had g iven him talent to do so , they would be satisfied with his working , he should be proud and happy , and if during the year he was asked to do something for this lodge or for Masonry , he should be prouder when he had laid down the gavel than even he was that night .

The WORSHIPFUL MASTER next proposed "The Installing Officer , Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , " and referred to the great assistance the founders of the lodge received from him . At that time they were very young with regard to knowledge of the requirements in the formation of a lodge , and all of them knew it was only necessary to ask Bro . Col . Clerke a question to receive from him the greatest kindness and cordiality . He had to-day added to their obligations by installing him as Worshipful Master .

Bro . Col . SHADWELL H . CLERKE , in reply , said he was very grateful to the W . M . for the kindness in which he had introduced the toast , and for the very fraternal expressions he had been good enough to use . He was the officer of the Order , and it was his pleasure as well as his duty to do all he could to further Masonry in every possible way . But beyond that it was an exceeding pleasure to him to afford any as-istance in his power to promote such excellent bodies as the

Savage Club Lodge had turned out to be . He looked back with very great pleasure and satisfaction to the events of the last few years with regard to this lodge . He remembered well the preliminary steps on its formation . He had the high honour of consecrating the lodge . He had also had the honour of installing three out of four W . M . ' s , and , therefore , he need scarcely say he felt deeply identified with the lodge , and watched most anxiously and narrowly its prosperity . He rejoiced to

say that that prosperity was entirely assured . The lodge had simply to go on in the course it had followed , and it clearly would be second to none . It was a great pleasure to him to be there that night and to instal Bro . Chapman , who had given them a foretaste of what his powers were and would be in the chair , and he was confident that under Bro . Chapman ' s rule the lodge would prosper still further . The prosperity of the Savage Club Lodge would always be of great concern to himself ( Col . Clerke ) .

Bro . F . A . PHILBRICK , G . Reg ., in proposing " Prosperity to the Savage Club Lodge , " said the savage state of mankind was depicted by those distinguished brethren who , in various artistic lines , charmed and delighted and alleviated those present , not merely us brethren , but they elevated the tone of society and taught them in every day hard working life that there was something which was better , and which lent a charm to existence . These brethren had felt that connected as they were

with the Savage Club , there was still a need of another and a hi gher organisation among those who recognised the great tie which made the hearts of savage men to communicate . Met to commemorate the fourth annual meeting for the installation they were proud to see the lodge in the state in which it was , and whether they happened to be Savages or not , they all felt the great tie that Masonry possessed . The idea in the Savage Club of starting the Savage Club Lodge was a good

one , and it took root and produced a tree . No lodge had ever set forth with better auspices than with such a Master as it now had in the chair . The idea in which the lodge was founded was that Masonry was general , and many lodges restricted were not . This lodge abundantly showed that the idea of a lodge had amply vindicated the principles on which it was founded . The lodge had been successful . That had been shown by the

succession of its Masters and by the accession of its numbers , which was something like 100 . There had been a good accession to its ranks announced that night , and he thought the past progress of the lodge amply confirmed the sanguine views of those who founded it . In matters financial the lodge stood well to the fore , and in all matters Masonic , as became the Savage Club Lodge . They had even been remarkable as a young lodge , and he trusted they would still continue to keep the lodge in that true Masonic li ght . Therefore ,

because the lodge had been founded on princi ples that were true , because it had been worked by worthy brethren , and had met a real want in the profession—the noble profession which was so happily alluded to by the W . M . in his speech—it had been a great and a deserved success , and he trusted that that success might be long continued , and that he might have the pleasure and the privilege , as " he had now , of asking the brethren to drink " Success and Prosperity to the Savage Club Lodge . " He coupled with the toast the name of the I . P . M ., Bro . Thomas Catling .

Bro . THOMAS CATLING , I . P . M ,, in reply , said it was a great honour to him When the brethren elected him to be Master of the lodge . He found it during his year of office a great honour to serve the brethren to the best of his ability ; and he mi ght say now with the utmost candour that this was a crowning honour to be permitted to respond before that distinguished assembl y for the Savage Club Lodge . He did it with the greatest pleasure , as he was in the presence of his

Masonic father , Bro . Augustus Harris , who introduced him to Masonry . He owed that brother a debt of gratitude for introducing him , and to Col . Shadwell Clerke for the kindness he showed him on every occasion when they were consulting about the formation of the Savage Club Lodge ; for the advice he gave him and two older Masons with whom he was associated in that work . The idea of the lodge was due to Bro . Chapman , and Bros . Burnside and Sir Somers Vine took it up .

When they proceeded they found Bros . Ebbetts , Fisher , and Northcutt worthy Savages , who would go on and assist them in every possible way , and Bro . Henry Irving gave to the subject his kind sympathy , and it was only the pressing duties of his stage profession that kept him from assuming a more important part . He was their first Treasurer ; he was followed by Bro . E . Terry , the present Grand Treasurer , whose absence that ni ght they regretted , more especially as it was on

account of ill-health . To that cause they had also to attribute the absence of Bro . Beveridge , who was on a voyage to Naples with the hope of restoring his voice . For the Savage Club they had much to be grateful to the Craft in general , and at the same time they felt that they had done their best to add something to Masonry in general . They had broughtintoitmen who would never have been Masons but for the peculiar and uni que circumstance of a club being the nucleus of a lod .

ge Brethren like Bro . Tegetmier , whom he had the honour of initiating , passing , and raising ; the vocalists , Dalgety Henderson , who had charmed them that evening , and associated with him a brother of his ( Bro . Catling ' s ) own profession , Bennett Burlei gh , who had carried the credit of it to every part of the world where the British arms had been , were men who would not have come into Masonry but for the Savage Club Lod ge . It had been said that the Savages were growing

too civilised . He did not know whether that was a compliment or a touch of satire of Bro . Philbrick , but he might venture to say that there were phases of the savage character that the brethren had that night not seen . Even so eloquent and distinguished a brother as Sir Somers Vine , when he appeared in the glory of his war paint , in his allegories that night was a different person . He did not invite them to come and see him , but they might have a different opinion of savages ; at any rate the Savage Club Lodge would never fail in its duty to Masonry , because

he was sure of this , when they enjoyed the pleasure offered that evening there was at the root and base of the Savage Club Lodge the sternest desire to obey in every degree its different principles , and to bear aloft those greater principles of love and Charity and general good fellowship , and it was due to those courses the Savage Club had flourished rather than to the external additions which they had been able b y exceptional circumstances to offer . On behalf of the Savage Club Lodge he could assure the brethren on behalf of those who had passed the chair and those who would come on to that office , they would always

Savage Club Lodge, No. 2190.

be delighted to do their best to maintain at the same time in all their integrity the deepest , the highest , and the holiest principles of Freemasonry . Bro . CATLING here read the following telegram received from Osborne in answer to one sent to the Queen informing her that the Savage Club had drunk her Majesty ' s health . " The Queen thanks the members of your Society for their good wishes . PONSONBY . "

The WORSHIPFUL MASTER , in proposing "The Visitors , " said in the course of a somewhat eventful life he had visited Masonic lodges in many climes and amid far different surroundings ; in places where the cultivation of Masonry led to rather evil than good report ; under the scorching sun of India , or in the West Republic ; and among our brethren in far off Australia . In all these places he had tested the universality of Masonry , and felt that tie which bound men's hearts

together . In the forests of America , on the sands of Egypt , and in the Holy City of Jerusalem he had visited Masonic lodges , and tasted the sweets of hospitality ; and it was therefore with peculiar feelings that he , who had responded to that toast in very different scenes to that , had the proud privilege of , for the first time , being able to propose it . They could quite easily understand that it was to him one of the most important toasts , as he thought it should always be in every lodge . What

would Masonry be without visitors ? What would the lodges be unless they held out the hand of fellowship to brethren ? A visitor who entered the Savage Club Lodge would always find its doors wide open to him ; he might always expect , and he would never be disappointed in finding , a warm , fraternal , and homely greeting . Bro . GOFFIN said it was at all times a p leasure to respond to the toast of the visitors , and especially in the Savage Club Lodge . He had had the high honour

and privilege of visiting the lodge , and he was pleased on all occasions , not only with the bountiful hospitality , but with the cordial , kind , happy , hearty friendship he had always experienced in the lodge . The visitors were delighted at all times to attend under the kindly influence of song , of culture , and of all that was elevating . He begged permission of the W . M . to congratulate him on the hi gh position he had attained in Freemasonry , and asked whether they saw in his brig ht beaming

eye , his facile pen , and his expanded heart a reflection of that happy , bright little paper launched upon the greater London , which arrogated to itself the smaller name of London . If they saw in the W . M . an ethereal reflection of that bright eye and that happy , bright heart , they were content to learn from it , for they saw in it that which could but elevate the soul ; make one's life , at any rate , a

life of happiness day by day . In the refined , artistic work produced by the Savages , under whose auspices they were now met , they enjoyed a privilege that was lost to many , but which the visitors very highly appreciated . Masonry as carried out in the Savage Club Lodge could only tend to strengthen the bond of friendship which should at all times exist among men , where they found the grasp of the hand of a brother ; when they did so they found at the same time the

heart . Bro . DAVID ANDERSON said : Worshi pful Master , Grand Officers , and brethren , —I must confess to a feeling of surprise , not unmixed with satisfaction , at being called on suddenly , and without a moment ' s previous notice , to return thanks for the visitors , in an assembly so remarkable and illustrious for the gifts of genius and the graces of oratory . It is a task which might well repay the

pains of preparation . At the same time , I am not displeased to be left to the spontaneous impulse of a mind gratified by your hearty and kindly reception of a toast always honoured in the proceedings of the Craft ; and permit me to add that he who would lack for simple words of thankfulness on such an occasion , and in such a bright fellowship , would be a very poor Freemason indeed . We all love and reverence the bond of brotherhood which binds us together in willing service

and useful work , and next to the pleasure of joining to promote the welfare of our several lodges , is the satisfaction we feel in taking part in the labour and refreshment of kindred centres , in the capacity of visitors . Onl y to-day , Worshipful Master , I was reading a remarkable book , apparently the work of one who is not a Freemason . It is called " Looking Backwards , " written by Mr . Edward Bellamy , an American , and draws an imaginary picture of society in the closing

years of the 20 th century . The author describes a happy and fortunate social scheme , formed on brotherly love , relief , and truth , a society in which all the men are tall and well set-up , and all the women handsome ; where the prizes and courtesies of life are not confined to a class , but are the common property of Lhe commonwealth . In this Utopia of a purified socialism no brother is allowed to be in need—all are provided for by what I will call the grand lodge of a

farseeing and merciful government—and all are virtuous , contented , and cheerful . As I laid upon the table the closed book , eagerly read to its last page , I was filled with wonder to think that this writer , possessed of a large heart , great penetration , ingenuity , and understanding , with all history for his model , and the wide realms of imagination at his command , could find nothing better to teach concerning the perfect life than what we Masons know full well is contained , formulated , and

complete , in the sublime body of our ritual . Such knowledge , so curiously confirmed , without collusion , and from an outside source , cannot fail to comfort and sustain us in propagating far and wide the blessings of our creed and Craft , as now it emboldens me to speak on behalf of the flower of Freemasonry here present , and to thank you , Worshipful Master , Grand Officers , and brethren of the Savage Club Lodge , in the name of my fellow guests , one and all . Bros . SUDLOW , FAIRFIELD , and FROST also replied .

Bro . THOMAS CATLING , I . P . M ., responding to the toast of " The Officers , " said he should not risk another speech at that late hour ; he should simply thank the W . M . for coupling his name with the toast . If during the year the W . M . might demand his services they would willingly be given . He could not allow the

opportunity to pass without expressing a word of special gratitude to the officer who had done his duty with assiduity , and as far as lay in his power : he must express their special thanks to Bro . John Paige , Secretary , who had looked after all the active business connected with the meeting , without which aid the Savages could not entertain their visitors with any hope of success .

Bro . EBBETTS , S . W ., and Bro . BURNSIDE , J . W ., also responded , and the Tyler ' s toast brought the proceedings to a close . During dinner the band of the Grenadier Guards ( by permission of Col . Trotter ) , and under the direction of Bro . Lieut . Dan Godfrey , played a beautiful selection of music . The entertainment following the banquet was contributed to

by Bros . W . L . Barrett , E . Bending J . Budd , A . J . Caldicott , Herbert Campbell , Franklin Clive , Theodore Drew , T . T . Fillan , W . Ganz , P . G . O . ; W . W . Hedgcock , J . Dalgety Henderson , W . Hogarth , Tito Mattei , W . Nicholl , Harry Nicholls , A . L . Oswald , Courtice Pounds , Sandamere , Geoffrey Thorne , and Herbert Thorndike . Bro . George Meads was toastmaster .

Her Majesty the Queen has , we understand , consented to give her patronage to the bazaar which the Grand Lodge of Scotland is to hold towards the end of this year in aid of the Annuity Fund of Scottish Masonic Benevolence . At the January meeting of the board in charge of the Annuity Fund , there were 43 applications , and i 6 annuities of £ 10 each were granted to decayed Freemasons or the widows of Freemasons .

The second annual meeting of shareholders of the Devon and Cornwall Freemasons ' Hall and Club Company ( Limited ) , held at Plymouth , on Friday , the 31 st ult ., was not largely attended . Bro . F . B . Westlake , chairman of directors , presided . The report stated that after charging everything up , there was a small balance to the credit of the revenue account . To place the company in a satisfactory financial position it was

necessary to place the 257 S unallotted shares . Bro . S . Harvey , the Steward , and his wife had carried out the duties admirably . Messrs . Westlake , F . R . Goodyear , and R . Causey were elected directors , and Mr . J . W . Cornish was elected in the place of Mr . J . Griffin , ivho did not seek re-election . Messrs . T . Gibbons and T . Goodall were elected luditors .