Consecration Of Queen Victoria Lodge No. 2655.

Fage , S . W . ; Major F . G . Edyvean , J . W . ; C Smale , Chap . ; J . Bowen , Treas . ; VV . J . Pearce , P . M ., Sec . ; H . Treays , S . D . ; J . Wilson , J . D . ; Occleshaw , I . G . ; VV . Roberts , D . C . ; VV . Brown , A . D . C ; Boulden , Org . ; Heard , Ball , and Glanville , Stewards ; and W . T . K . Tozer , Tyler . Besides the officers , there were six other bretliren who were founders , namely : Bros . J . M . Smith , H . Moon , J . R . Bennett , S . Brooming , J . S . Sherrell , and F . Pine .

Bro . Willoughby kindly undertook the musical portion of the ceremony at very short notice , and presided at the organ with such marked ability that the beauty and solemnity of the service was much enhanced ; in the singing he was ably assisted by the excellent choir of Lodge Metham , No . 1205 , all of whom volunteered their help in the most fraternal spirit .

The PROV . GRAND MASTER , followed by nearly all the brethren present , then expressed the heartiest good wishes for the success and prosperity of the new lodge . The names of several brethren proposed as joining members were then announced , and as many as five candidates for initiation wcre duty proposed and seconded .

The business being concluded , the lodge was closed in due form with solemn prayer . The W . M . is certainly to be congratulated on commencing his year of office under such favourable circumstances , and the founders have made a very happy selection in naming the lodge , for although this is the 60 th year of her Majesty ' s reign , no other lodge has chosen such an appropriate designation .

At the conclusion of the work a very recherche banquet was provided , and was much enjoyed by the large number of brethren who partook of it . In proposing the first toast , that of " The Queen-Empress , " Bro . SHANKS said : Whatever other privileges may fall to my lot in the post of honour I now hold , I do think the right of proposing the first toast on our list to-night is one of the greatest , if not the chief , for it is none other than

that of the health of our Gracious Queen and Empress . For the first time in the history of this lodge , which bears the revered name of her Majesty , we are to drink to the health of the wisest and , in every sense , the best Sovereign who has ever ruled over this or any nation . During the (> o years of her memorable and happy reign her dominions have extended their borders in every quarter of the globe ; we have enjoyed a freedom and

many advantages quite unknown to our ancestors and a national prosperity without parallel in history . The feeling of devoted loyalty which animates the people in every part of her Empire has never been surpassed , and 110 monarch has ever enjoyed so continuously , so increasingly , and so deservedly the respect and the love of her subjects . Her Majesty has everything in the shape of wealth and power that this world can give—she holds the rulin g trident of the ocean wave and the sovereignty of avast portion of the earth ' s

surface , while her glory and her renown are of world wide extent ; in all this she must , she does take a proper pride ; but the welfare and the happiness of her people is at all times a source of far greater satisfaction to our good Queen than anything beside . We Masons are , more deeply than others , imbued with a spirit of true devotion to our noble Queen , and'from thc bottom of our hearts we pray that the richest benisons may deFcend upon her , that the powers of heaven and earth may combine to bless Victoria the Good .

The WoRSini'i'UL MASTER next proposed " The Grand Master , H . R . I I . the Prince of Wales , and the Grand Officers , " in a brief but very appropriate speech . In giving the toast of "The Provincial Grand Master of Devon , the Hon . Sir Stafford Northcote , Bart ., C . B ., M . P ., " the VV . MASTER said : It is my duty , my privilege , and my great pleasure to give you this loast , but

the difficulty is how to do it I One of our potts , speaking of the soldier , has said : " Place him in danger ' s front—he recks not where—you may bc sure he'll do his duty there ! " Now that poet could never have been a soldier put up to make a speech or he would certainly have modified his opinion , and would have had to admit that there is one duty before which even a British soldier quails , "for deeds , not words , " is our motto . If our

Provincial Grand Master were not here my task would be a comparatively easy one , for you would willingly lend me your ears and 1 should carry you all with me while sounding his praises even if I spoke for an hour ; but to speak of him , as he deserves to be spoken of , in his presence would seem like vulgar flattery . This I may say though , that it is a real pleasure to us , as well

as a great honour , to have the P . G . Master in our midst , it must be , it is a source of unbounded satisfaction to each one of us ( turning to the P . G . Master ) To spend an hour thus pleasantly with you—So bright a link in our Masonic chain—Oh , may we very soon this joy renew ,

And meet our worthy chieftain once again ! In responding the P . G . MASTER said he was very glad indeed to have been able to consecrate the Queen Victoria Lodge , and it gave him very great pleasure to be with the brethren who received him so cordially . He hoped it would not be long before he might be in their midst , but at the same time he trusted the W . Master ' s threat of sounding his ( Sir Stafford's )

praises by the hour would not be carried out . He added that he was very greatly pleased with all the arrangements made for the consecration , and with all he had seen and heard of the new lodge , he had listened with great interest to the names of those proposed as joining members and as candidates for initiation , and was very glad to see the Queen Victoria was not going to be a " class " lodge , but that the members meant to illustrate and uphold the teaching that noble thoughts and charitable hearts are not

the exclusive property of any one class or sect . Bro . FAGE , S . W ., in proposing" The Health of the Deputy Prov . Grand Master , and the rest of the Prov . Grand Officers , Present and Past , " said the province had always been fortunate in the officers chosen , they being brethren who were actuated by pure Masonic principles , and he thought they did deserve ( in the words of the quotation from Shakespeare attached to the toast on the menu card ) " high commendation , true applause , and love . "

Bros . S . J , W . POWELL , and P . DUNN , all Piov . Grand Officers , responded to tbe toast in very suitable terms , Bro . Major E DYVEAN , J . W ., gave the next toast , "Thc Installing Officer , " and said the quotation attached to the toast on the card was in this case also most appropriate , for by the beautiful and impressive maimer in which Bro . J . Stocker had done the installation ceremony he had taken all ears captive ; no one who had the good fortune to be present could have failed to be deeply impressed with the solemnity and dignity of Bro . Stocker ' s work .

Consecration Of Queen Victoria Lodge No. 2655.

hro . STOCKER , P . G . Sec , in reply , said it gave him great pleasure to instal the VV . M . of No . 2 ( 155 , as he was quite sure Bro . Shanks was the right man in the ri ght place , and was one whom the authorities could thoroughly rely upon to carry out all his duties and to perforin the ceremonies correctl y . He did not know that he ever installed a Master with

more pleasure . He ( Bro . Stocker ) did not consider he deserved the credit the brethren had given him for doing tlie installation well because he did it so often that it was quite second nature to him . He felt quite sure the members of the new lodge would carry out thc ( rue principles of Freemasonry , and he wished them every success and prosperity .

'the toast of "The Wors ' - iipful Master of Oueen Victoria Lodi-c , " proposed by thc PROV . GRAND MASTER , was mo ~ k enthusiastically ' received . Sir Stafford Northcote said that although tliere was some mi < giving and hesitation when the authorities first heard that another new lodge was talked of , yet when the application was received and it was seen that Bro . Shanks was to be the first Master all doubt vanished and thc petition was readily

acceded lo , for Bro . Shanks' work on behalf of the Masonic Charities , and in other directions , as well as his reputation for ability in performing the ceremonies of all Degress was well known not only in Devonshire but in London also ; and he felt that a lodge started under such leadershi p was bound to do well . He remembered an occasion ( some 20 years ago ) when

Bro . Shanks , in his military capacity , had charge of the present Prime Minister and himself , in somewhat difficult circumstances , and how well his duties wcre then performed , and he felt certain that his Masonic duties as VV . Master of the new lod g * would be carried out with equal zeal and ability . The Prov . Grand Master concluded by wishing Bro . Shanks and the lodge every prosperity and success .

Bro . SHANKS , on rising to respond , had a veiy warm fraternal reception . He said to reply in suitable terms to the toast which has just been proposed in such an eulogistic manner , and received with such cordiality , is an utter impossibility . I can only , but truly say , I thank you all most heartily . Believe me , [ am fully alive to the duties and the responsibilities , as well as to the honour and the pleasure of the proud position in which you have

placed me , and most sincerel y do I trust that I may be able to carry out my duties with satisfaction to every brother , to the advantage of ths lodge , and « ith credit to myself . I hope I may be able to fulfil , even partially , those high expectations you have formed of mc ; ( o do so shall certainly ba my constant endeavour . I shall aim hi gh , even if 1 never succeed in hitting the mark . With regard to the success of the lodge , it is practically in our

own hands , but to ensure it we must at all times take care that only such material is brought in for building up our sacred temple as is ( in every sense ) thoroughly suitable . The success of a lod ge , remember , docs not depend upon numbers merely , far from it ; we want—we must have—only perfect ashlars , not rubble-work for our walls . Again , we must do our utmost lo preserve that unanimily which has so far h ippily marked our

proceedings , ft is essential also that the ceremonies in our lodge should be worked with perfect accuracy . I do not mean merely that thc wjrJs of our ritual should be repealed without mistake ( a child of ten mi ght do that , but I mean that we must each and all stud y Freemasonry deeply and earnestly , then it will bc evident to all that we understand and reall y ( et ! the solemn meaning of the words we utter and of the symbolism we use .

Ihe working of any Degree in Freemasonry is , if rightly understood , one of the most solemn things man can well engage in , and should be so performed as to leave that impression on the candidate . Above all , we must take cartto practice in our daily life those sublime precepts we are taught in our ritual . The Queen Victoria Lodge is now started on what will , I tr . ist , prove to be a prosperous career ; and although we are just now the yonnge t

, offspring of the United Grand Lodge of England , I do hope and believe that we shall uphol J the banner of pure Masonic princi ples just as fearlessly , just as sturdil y a ** tlie older members of the family , and as our lodge bens the name of the noblest and grandest example of public and domestic virtu * : that the world has ever seen , so may it ever prove itself worthy of such a distinguished title .

Bro . PEKRINI ; , iu suitable terms , then gave " The Health of the Visiting Brethren and Sister l . oi ' ges , " and said that visitors would always be very welcome lo No . 2 ( 155 . This was briefly responded lo by Bros . DINN and POWELL , bath of 1 -OK .

Bro . POWELL then proceeded to propose the toast of " The Officers of the Lodge , " and pointed out how necessary good officers were , adding that he believed tho * - ; c appointed in thc < > a-en Victoria Wvjrc good and true Masons and might be relied 011 to do their duties well . Bros . BMWEH , Treas ., and TKEAIS , S . D ., responded . The'l yler ' s loast , admirably proposed by Bro . GIULGI , concluded the proceedings .

Several capital songs by Bros . Djiiu , Law , Trcays , Maddock , and others , together with recitations b y Bros . Pearce , Shank ; , an I Pearce , were given during the evening and added much to the phasure of ths entertainment .

the menu card was quite a feature of the banq'iel , being beaiitifjlli got up and appropriatel y embellished with a photograph of the U . wen its attractiveness was also increased by apt q i-latiou * from diTf-ren ' portions of the Masonic ritual . Tne toast list was likewise enlivened wilt extracts from Shakespeare ' s works , which were very suitably an J w ¦/] chosen .

The lod ge has received the folljwing presents : 1 „ , ,, , Given by—Large table and cushion with silver ornaments ; collai , gauntlets , ') and silver jewel for the W . M . ; handiijnie sword with silver /„ ,, ¦ < -, , mountings and scabbard for the I . G . ; and Chines ** : sword [ " I 0 , M ' 1 ' ~ -shmki .

for thc Tyler ) Tesselated lloorcloth .. . , \ r Shanks Velvet cushion for kncelin-r-itool ] " i \ Jjsb ' Shanks . ' Co ar , gauntlets , and silver jewel for the IS . W Hro Kane Collar , gauntlets , and silver jewel for the J . W Hro . Maja ' r Kdyvean .

anver cumjjasscs and . v-uare lor Ihe pedestal ... } , r < J' ' a * - aml Collar and silver jewel for the Chaplain "* H ™ fe' MyVCan * Collar and silver jewel for the S . D IlroTreavs Handsome chair lor the W . M . * . ' . Lodge Metham . hmblems of mortality Hro Pearce Set of three candlesticks " Urg * s . ,, { ,

bet of books lor Treasurer , . Secretary , and Tyler ... . - ' ! r 0 ' l ' e 3 rCm and c- , \ ,, , , . . '" " t Ur ° - Bo . ven . bix gavels , ballot-box , and three sets of working tools Hro . Hall .