Consecration Of The Sir William Harpur Lodge, No. 2343, Bedford.

The lodge having been duly consecrated and constituted , the Consecrating Officer installed Bro . Chas . E . Prior , M . D ., P . M ., as W . M ., and , that brother having been saluted by a Board of Installed Masters , some 30 in number , invested his officers as follows : Bros . F . W . Webb , W . M . 540 , as S . W . ; T . B . Nichols , J . W . ; H . Thody , P . M ., as Sec ; H . Young , S . D . ; A . Hill , J . D . ; Rev . Paul W . Wyatt , I . G . ; and H . H . Frodsham , Stwd .

Bro . Col . SHADWEI . I . H . CLERKE then gave the addresses in his usual manner , and resumed his seat amidst applause . Bro . A . HILL proposed— " That the hearty thanks of the lodge be accorded to Bro . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke and Bro . Richardson for their services and for the instruction they had given to the brethren ; that the same be entered on the minutes , and that they be made honorary members of the lodge . " Bro . the Rev . W . PAUL WYATT seconded , and it was carried with applause .

The GRAND SECRETARY expressed thanks for himself and his colleague , who was always ready to serve the Craft . A number of candidates and joining members were proposed , and a Committee framed to draw up by-laws , and the lodge was closed .

Founders : Bros . Charles Edward Prior , P . M . 540 , Prov . G . Sec . ; F . W . Webb , W . M . 540 ; T . B . Nichols , 540 ; R . P . jarvis , P . M . $ 40 ; H . Thody , P . M . 540 ; H . Young , 540 ; Augustus Hill , 540 ; . Rev . Paul Wyatt , 540 ; P . W . Barker , 13 ; and H . H . Frodsham , 1509 . Upwards of 70 brethren were present at the consecration .

A large number of brethren sat down to a sumptuous banquet at the Swan Hotel , when Bro . E . E . Pricket excelled himself in catering . Bro . Prior , W . M ., presided , being supported by Bros . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , G . Sec . ; Frank Richardson , P . G . D . ; Rev . R . B . Poole , D . D ., P . G . C ; Col . E . R . Green , Mark Whyley , P . G . S . W . ; J . Gladwell , P . G . J . W . ; Kipps , 2332 ;

H . R . Rose , 2000 ; Joshua Hawkins , 2030 ; and others . After "The Queen and the Craft " had been duly honoured , The WORSHIPFUL MASTER gave "The Health of the Grand Master , " remarking that when his Royal Highness accepted that honoured position 20 years ago the Craft was not in the position it is now , with 2343 lodges .

Bro . RICHARDSON responded to the toast of " The Grand Officers , " and said he knew that the Pro . Grand Master and the Deputy Grand Master were both patterns of what Masons should be , and devoted an enormous amount of time to Masonry ; in fact it was the case with all who were honoured with the purple that they endeavoured to do their duty . It had been a great pleasure to Bro . Col . Shadwell

H . Clerke and himself to come and assist that day , and render the little Masonic services they had . They were , too , happy to see the new lodge start in such a prosperous manner , and whilst thanking the founders for the honorary membership they had conferred on them he hoped some day they would be able to corne down and see them again , and see how very prosperous they were .

The WORSHIPFUL MASTER gave " The Health of the Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Col . Stuart , " and said bow pleased they were to see him at the ceremony in the afternoon , and also the Deputy P . G . M ., Bro . Col . R . H . Lindsell . To this toast Bro . WHYLEY responded in a humorous manner , and said he and the other Provincial Grand Officers were pleased to have been able to assist in the ceremony of that day .

Bro . Col . SHADWELL H . CLERKE proposed what he said he would not call the toast of the evening , but the most important among those they were honouring that evening . He asked his brethren to drink " The Health of the Master of this New Lodge , " and coupled with it the prosperity of the lodge itself . He often had the honour to propose the health of the Master of a new lodge , and frequently pointed out that it was a higher honour than the Mastership of a lodge which has

been in existence for some years . In the latter case the brother arrived at the chair in the natural course of things and by seniority . But with a new lodge it was not so ; then there were many energetic , zealous , and competent brothers , who would any of them make good men , but they choose out one man and say " This is the very best man to preside over us for the first year , " and that was the position in which the distinguished brother on his ri ght now stood . There could be

no doubt of his fitness for the post , remembering his long Masonic life , and how four and a half years ago , on the formation of the province , he gave up a large share of his valuable professional time ; he could well understand that such a man was one whom his brethren would desire to honour , and he congratulated the lodge that Bro . Prior had accepted the position , and at the same time Bro . Prior ought

to feel highly honoured in being placed in such a distinguished position . Bro . Col . Clerke believed it was just 17 years since the last consecration of a lodge in that province , and he was glad that there was now another on the roll . He asked all the brethren to drink prosperity to the new lodge over which Bro . Prior was about to preside , and which , they could not doubt , under his fostering care would attain to the successful position which its mother lodge , the Stuart , had held for 43

years . Bro . PRIOR thanked the brethren for the reception given to the toast and to himself . Speaking of the lodge he hoped it would go on as it had begun ; his experience told him that if a lodge was to do well it should be characterised b y good Masonic feeling and good working . For many years the Stuart Lodge , from which that might be said to be an overflow , had been characterised by its excellent

working , and that when working was not so generally good as it is in these days . He hoped too that the new lodge would give good subscriptions to the Charities and then it would prosper . When the post of W . M . was offered him by his brethren ( for he did not seek it ) he felt it was due to himself as Provincial Grand Secretary to do what he could for the Craft , and he felt bound to take it . He was associated with such an excellent band of brothers that he looked confidently for their

support . He could not look to them for experience , but he could happily consult other experienced Masons in the town , but he hoped and believed they would have no collisions . New lodges might start from various causes , sometimes because brethren who could not advance as rapidly as they desired , and sometimes from class feelings . But in that case it was not so , the town was increasing largely in numbers and in wealth , and he thought the time had come for a second lodge ,

and he regarded that as an overflow of the Stuart Lodge , lor of the ten signatories to the petition eight were members of the Stuart Lodge . He assured the brethren that no exertion of his should be wanting to ensure its success , and when it became his duty to hand on the gavel to his successor he trusted he mi ght find the lodge well consolidated and established , and well reflecting the best memories of its excellent mother , the Stuart Lodge . Our worthy brother was loudly cheered as he sat down .

Bro . PRIOR rose again to propose ' The Health of the Consecrating Officer , " and said if it had not been for the kind help of Bro . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke they would have fared very badly indeed . He thought the brethren in Bedford might flatter themselves on having on two occasions within four-and-a-half years had the Grand Secretary to conduct such like ceremonies , when lodges much nearer London had not been so fortunate . No one could have been at the

ceremony that afternoon but must have been deeply impressed , and he hoped the Grand Secretary and Bro . Richardson were satisfied with the preparations made for the duties they had undertaken on that occasion . It was no light thing for a lodge to be started as the Sir William Harpur had been . Everything had been well thought out , and when the Grand Secretary of England took the ceremony they

knew there was no other man who could have done it with greater dignity and effect . In Ihe name of all his brethren , Bro . Prior tendered the Grand Secretary his most sincere thanks for his rendering of the ceremony , and for the counsel he had given ( hem . He trusted they would continue the work of the lodge in a manner to reflect credit on those who opened it , and now that he was a member of the lodge he believed he would ever feel an additional interest in its welfare , I

Consecration Of The Sir William Harpur Lodge, No. 2343, Bedford.

Bro . Col . SHADWELL H . CLERKE , who was enthusiastically received , sincerel y thanked them for the very kind and fraternal manner in which they had referred to the very small services he had been able to render that afternoon . As he said in lodge , it had given him very great pleasure to find himself able to come down and perform the ceremony . It was a most extraordinary coincidence by which he fixed that day for the ceremony , the anniversary of the death of Sir William

Harpur ; it was one of those extraordinary things one could not explain . Bro . Richardson and he had been entirely pleased ; everything was prepared in a most excellent manner ; aSI the arrangements were exceedingly good , and they found no difficulty in carrying out the work when they arrived . He should be ungrateful if he did not thank the local brethren for their assistance , and when Bro . Richardson had the wand of office in hand there was sure to be no difficulty . It was a great

pleasure to come to those occasions to promote the good of Masonry in the various provinces ; and he always looked back on those occasions with very strong feelings of regard ; he generall y found that the lod ge had been successful , and he was sure in that case there would be no exception to the rule , and he believed , as time rolled on , that lodge would take

a high position among the lodges of Bedfordshire and of England , and he was quite sure he would never be sorry to have been one of the means of starting that lodge . He thanked the brethren for their kind fraternal welcome that day , and also that of four and a halt years ago , when he installed the Prov . G . M . Not being very well , perhaps he had not done the work very perfectly , but he hoped they would accept his services , for he did what he could .

Bro . Col . GREEN proposed " The Health of Bro . Dr . Poole , the Chaplain , " who had given them such an excellent address . He congratulated the new lodge on the successful way in which it had been inaugurated , and , judging from the list of candidates and joining members read out . it seemed as if the Sir William Harpur would soon rival the Stuart Lodge . He asked all to drink health , life , and happi . ness to their worthy Bro . Poole .

Bro . Dr . POOLE said he felt himself utterly unworthy of that toast , for he had done very much less than he ought to have done for Masonry . But his duties tied him up very much , and he could not be with them when he would ; he had the strongest feelings for and the deepest interest in Masonry . He had seen the consecration of a lodge at Bristol , but he would say he never saw anything so

well done as the ceremony of that day by Bro . Shadwell H . Clerke . He felt very strongly the brotherly bond of Masonry between all people , and he felt convinced that the more they could promote that feeling the better it would be for the human race . He hoped all lodges would try and teach it every day ; what he was teaching every day was really nothing but Masonry , and , though they did not know it now , some day , if those boys became Masons , they would find that it was so .

Bro . S . KILPIN , P . M ., gave "The Charities , " and Bro . the Rev . PAUL WYATT "The Visiting Brethren , " which was acknowledged by Bro . J . B . EMMERSON , 803 . Bro . PRIOR gave "The Officers of the Sir William Harpur Lodge , " to which the SENIOR WARDEN responded , and the T y ler ' s toast concluded the proceedings . The musical arrangements of the day were most efficientl y directed by Bro . H . R . Rose , and songs and duets were given by Bros . Allen and Cookson .

Consecration Of The Universities' Lodge, No. 2352, Durham.

CONSECRATION OF THE UNIVERSITIES ' LODGE , No . 2352 , DURHAM .

Saturday , Feb . 22 nd , 18 90 , will be long remembered in the annals of Freemasonry in the Province of Durham . In a great measure owing to the exertions of Bro . Dr . Hill Drury , it was decided , in the month of December last , to apply to the Most Worshipful Grand Master , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , for a warrant to establish a new lodge , to meet in the City of Durham , the membershi p

to be restricted to graduates of a British University . The scheme , which was heartily supported by Bros . Canon Tristram , D . D ., D . Prov . G . Master ; Canon Kynaston , D . D ., P . S . G . W . Gloucestershire ; and other distinguished brethren , received the hearty approval of Bro . Sir Hedworth Williamson Bart . , Provincial Grand Master , and in due course the warrant was received from Grand Lodge .

The assembly in the Durham Masonic Hall , on Saturday , the 22 nd ult , was one of the most brilliant gatherings of north country Masons which has ever been witnessed . The hall was crowded ; every lodge in the province was represented b y some of its most ardent members , while the neighbouring Provinces of Northumberland , Yorkshire , and Cumberland and Westmorland sent representatives . Shortly after half-past three o ' clock the brethren rose to receive Bro . Sir

Hedworth Williamson , Bart ., P . G . M ., and the officers accompanying him . In the unavoidable absence of the D . P . G . M . of Northumberland , Bro . R . H . Holmes , P . G . D . England , the northernmost province was represented by Bros . Faraday Spence , P . S . G . W . ; Rev . T . B . Nichols , M . A ., P . P . S . G . W . ; W . Davidson , B . A ., P . P . S . G . W . ; and F . H . Corder , B . A ., P . P . G . D . The Province of North and East Yorkshire was represented by Bros . A . P . Purey-Cust , D . D ., the Dean of York ; and T . B . Whytehead , P . P . S . G . W .

Bro . Sir H . Williamson , Bart ., P . G . M ., was the Consecrating Officer , and , in addition to the above supporting him , were Bros . Victor Williamson , P . G . W . of England , acting Deputy P . G . M . ; Rev . Hartley Jennings , M . A ., and Rev . H . Becher , M . A ., Chaplains ; R . Hudson , P . G . S . B . England , Prov . G . Secretary G . W . Bain , P . G . Reg . ; J . M . While , P . J . G . W . ; R . W . Halfnight , P . G . Treas . ; W . Logan , P . G . D . C . ; J . R . Pattison , P . A . G . Sec . ; the founders of the new lodge ,

wearing their academic gowns and hoods of their respective University degrees , to whose names their designated offices are attached , viz . : Bros . H . B . Tristram , D . D ., F . R . S ., Canon of Durham , D . P . G . M ., P . G . C , W . M . ; Herbert Kynaston , D . D ., Canon of Durham , Professor of Greek , University of Durham , P . P . S . G . W . Gloucestershire , S . W . ; R . Luck , M . A ., LL . M ., P . P . G . R ., J . W . ; R . H . Yeld , M . A . ( Vicar of Birtley ) , P . P . G . C , Chap . ; J . Forster , M . A ., P . P . G . R ., Treas . ;

CD . Hill Drury , M . D ., Ch . M ., Sec ; James Lawrence , M . D ., S . D . ; Lionel Booth , M . D ., P . P . S . G . W ., J . D . ; T . Randell , B . D . ( Principal of Bede College ) , P . P . G . C , I . G . ; Ed . Jepson , M . D ., Steward ; Wm . Proctor Swaby ( Vicar of St . Mark ' s , Mirfield ) , B . D ., P . P . G . C ; and J . R . Short , M . A ., Fellow and Tutor , Hatfield Hall , University of Durham . There were also

present—Bros . C . H . Backhouse , P . P . J . G . W . ; James Monks , P . P . S . G . W . ; Rev . W . C . Harris , P . P . G . C ; J . G . Wilson , P . P . J . G . W . ; Rev . E . Coltier Biggs , P . P . G . C . ; M . J . Wheatley , P . D . G . D . C ; Thomas Atkinson , P . A . G . D . C ; VV . Coxon , P . P . G . S . B . ; R . VV . Simpson , P . J . G . D . ; E . R . Hurworth , P . G . O . ; VV . Dawson , P . G . P . ; S . Wilson , P . P . S . G . D . ; C . S . Lane , P . P . G . D . ; W . T . Tate , P . P . G . W . ; J . C . Moor , P . P . G . D . ; R . Singleton , P . P . G . D . ; J . Robinson , P . G . Std . Br . ; J . J . Athey , P . P .

A . G . D . C . ; J . F . Hiller , P . P . G . O . ; D . Whitehead , P . P . G . O . ; C . Rowlandson , P . P . J . G . W . ; Robert Hauxwell , P . P . G . S . B . ; J . Wright , P . G . Steward North and East Yorks ; G . VV . Hudson , W . M . 5 66 ; J . H . Penney , P . P . G . Steward ; Geo . Craven , P . G . Steward ; A . M . White , P . G . Steward ; C . M . Forbes , 236 ; Wm . Mitford , P . M . HI ; VV . J . Brown , B . A ., S . VV . 1274 ; C . F . Sutcliffe , l . P . M . 240 ; Thomas Dunn , l . P . M . 124 ; W . Brotherhood , VV . M . 2135 ; John Hudson , P . P . G . Steward ;

B . Swam , lyler 949 ; B . R . Smith , P . G . Tyler ; T . G . Garrick , P . M . 94 ; J . T . Ross , W . M . 1790 ; and others . The lodge was opened b y the P . G . M . After prayer by the P . G . Chaplain , the Masonic anthem , " Hail , Eternal , " was sung by the choir , Bros . G . Leatham , D . Whitehead , J . Nutton , and F . Martin , by whom the musical portion of the ceremony was rendered , Bro . E . R . Hurworth , P . G . O ., being Organist . The Prov . Grand Secretary , Bro . R . HUDSON , read the petition , and afterwards the warrant , signed b y H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , K . G ., for the new lodge .