Consecration Of The Ermine Lodge, No. 2351, At Lincoln.

toast was without doubt the toast of the evening . It was impossible for him to express to their Consecrating Master , the Grand Secretary , what an amount of pleasure it had given them to welcome him in their town that day . It was impossible for him to say in Col . Clerke ' s presence what he might have said in his absence , but he felt that after what they had seen that day , and the manner in which Col . Clerke had performed the work of consecrating their new lodge , and

the way in which he had given effect to the beautiful ritual of that consecration ceremony , that the brethren had seen for themselves what manner of man their Grand Secretary was . It was impossible for him by any words he could use to impress upon them to a greater extent than his ( Col . Clerke ' s ) words and actions had done what an excellent Mason they had in that important post to which our M . W . Grand Master the Prince of Wales

had honoured him by appointing him . Not only was the Grand Secretary skilled in the workings of the ritual of the Order , but in his office as Grand Secretaryhe meant no words of flattery—he thought it would be simply impossible to get any brother to fill that office in the way in which Col . Clerke did . As they could imagine , he must have , day after day , week after week , personal interviews with brethren from all parts of the country , and correspondence from brethren

asking trivial and ridiculous questions . It did not matter how ridiculous or how trivial those questions were they had the same courtesy of manner , the same kindness of reception , the same Masonic spirit that one could possibly wish to have , and he did feel that it would be almost impossible to find another man who could carry out the duties of the office in the way the Grand Secretary did . He had gone into Col . Clerke ' s office when he was busy , and had been received with

the same courteous welcome , the same kindly manner and consideration if it might be a little detail as if it had been the weightiest matter that could be brought before the Craft . He knew that it was the same experience wiih other brethren who had had personal interviews with the Grand Secretary . They must know what a great amount of inconvenience Col . Clerke had submitted to to be with them that day . He had told them he was anxious to come there , but he ( the speaker ) knew that he had been confined to his room , and had only been away from home a

few days to fulfil his promises to consecrate their lodge . That showed what an amount of energy and interest the Grand Secretary put into his work and the duties of his office . He could but express to Col . Clerke in the name of the founders , and other brethren who had been with them that day , their sense of what an amount of pleasure and honour had been conferred on them b y Col . Clerke ' s kindness in coming down among them and doing the amount of work he had done . He had the greatest pleasure in submitting the toast .

The GRAND SECRETARY , in response , confessed himself somewhat overwhelmed with the eulogistic expressions used towards himself , and he was afraid his Masonic virtues had been exaggerated . His whole heart was in the work which was on his shoulders , and he was only too delighted if that day he had done anything to promote the Order and give any assistance to his fellow Masons . Of course it was not only his pleasure but his duty to receive brethren at his office . He

hoped he should always do his best to carry out the onerous duties of that office which he had the honour to fill . Their Prov . Grand Master had been good enough to ask him to visit his province , and , indeed , he believed it was the only Masonic province in England in which he had not been before . He was glad to say that his wish had been fulfilled and that he had been able to come down , and that he had been permitted to take some small part in the work of that province , and

meet many old friends and make many fresh acquaintances . It had been a great pleasure to come amongst them for the consecration of the | Ermine Lodge . He thanked them exceedingly for the very kind , brotherly , and hospitable way in which they had received him on that , his first visit to Lincolnshire . He was now going to ask them to drink the health of their worthy and excellent brother who had been appointed to preside over them , and he would couple with

his name a hope for the future prosperity of the Ermine Lodge . Although , as he had said in the opening proceedings , there were already two lodges in Lincoln , yet there was indisputably room for a third . The city had grown , and there were far more Masons in it than there used to be , and the time had come when there was room for a third lodge . It appeared to have been started very judiciously , and an excellent and good selection of officers made , and they had been most

fortunate in obtaining such a charming place of meeting . He could do no other than congratulate them upon the way in which the room was decorated . He had seldom been in a better room , and never in any where more pains had been taken to arrange it . He would now asked them to drink " The Health of Bro . Cousans , " selected by the founders to be their first master . That was an exceptional compliment , because there were other brothers qualified , but still the members

unanimously agreed that Bro . Cousans was the best man for the place . He had no doubt and felt quite sure that that was a very hig h compliment and well deserved . He had been a Master before of one of the Lincoln lodges , and he ( Col . Clerke ) hoped he might have every blessing and a prosperous year of office , and mig ht the future success of the lodge be all that its founders could wish it to be .

The WORSHIPFUL MASTER said he lost no time in responding to that toast which had been proposed in such kindly terms . When that lodge was started , he had not the slig htest idea that he would be selected as W . M . He remembered his feelings some years ago when he was selected to preside at a meeting of that sort as Master of the Witham Lodge . He felt then that that was the greatest honour he could receive in Masonry , but he thought

that at the present time , when a new lodge had been started in Lincoln , and a number of Past Masters senior to himself , and whom , he was bound to say , had done more work than he had , had selected him as W . M ., he felt it as a special compliment , and he took it that they wished him to carry out the office in a very efficient manner . He would say to the founders of the lodge that he would endeavour to discharge his duties in such a way as to give satisfaction to the founders .

The officers they had appointed were already brethren of experience , and he had no doubt the work of the lodge would bear comparison with any other lodge in the province . It certainly would not be the fault of the officers if they did not . With regard to the room in which they had met that day , no credit was due to himself , but the whole of the credit was due to Bro . Mortimer , who had been at infinite pains to prepare the room , and he was sure they would agree with him

that it was excellently prepared , and made a very inviting room . He must , before he sat down , in the name of the founders , thank Bro . Shaw and the other brethren for their assistance in the musical part of the ceremony . They would agree with him that the music had been excellently rendered , and the thanks of the officers were specially due to them . He thanked them again for the very kind manner in which they had received that toast , and also Bro . Col . Clerke for the far too complimentary manner in which he had proposed it .

Bro . SISSONS , in proposing I he Masonic Chanties , said there was a great and unobstrusive Charity which flowed from every lodge . There were the great Provincial Charities and the contributions which went to the Central Charities , which were dear to every English Mason . He should like to say a word as to the Provincial Grand Lodge Charities , Some few years ago the Freemasons in Lincolnshire promoted three great funds—the Sutcliffe , the Smythe , and the Oliver—for the education of boys and girls , and the help of aged Freemasons

and widows . In supporting those Charities they meant nothing antagonistic to or subversive of the great Masonic Charities of England . In the first place they found there were many sons and daughters who did not want their whole education supplying , but by those me _ ns they could help a child , a boy or a girl , to be educated . They were told by the Masters and Mistresses of the Boys' and Girls ' Schools that no sooner did the parents or guardians once get their children accepted than they ceased practically to educate them at all . The children went up from

Consecration Of The Ermine Lodge, No. 2351, At Lincoln.

Lincolnshire quite ignorant , and for some time they were unable to take advantage of the education offered them . They had now raised sufficient money to accomplish all the purposes they intended , and there was no reason now why they should not send their contributions to the Masonic Charities . Masonry in Lincolnshire had to deal with a widely scattered district , and there were only a few lodges spread ever that large district , but in no part of England was the great question of Masonic

Charity more seriously considered than there , and in no part of England did they more realise that Masonry without Charity was worth nothing . If Masonry ceased to be useful it must pass away and come to nothing . They realised that they must prove by their offerings that they were worthy of help . That feeling had been promoted in Lincolnshire , and he could assure the Grand Officers that had come amongst them that night that , notwithstanding the great

agricultural depression that had prevailed in that district , they had always striven to help their poorer brethren , for there had been constant claims upon the lodges . He had great pleasure in proposing the Masonic Charities , and he coupled with that toast the name of Bro . Richardson , who had identified himself with the great Central Charities , and Bro . Vickers , who gave his time andability to that question , who looked after the whole matter , and never lost a point in gaining votes , and never seemed to tire of doing the duties of his office .

Bro . RICHARDSON , in reply , remarked that Masonry without Charity was of little gain , and from the fact that Masons contributed about . £ 50 , 000 in the course of the year , it was shown that they thought well of it . At the present time their Charities were flourishing , and they had that fine Institution- ^ the Benevolentwhere those who had borne the heat and burden of the day could find a haven of refuge in their old age and their trouble . There were very nearly 400 receiving

assistance , either in grants or were accommodated in the almshouse . He referred to the splendid collection made of £ 13 , , and said he had no doubt that they would find that the Boys' School , which accommodated 250 boys , would shortly take the place it ought to take , and which some short time back it did take , in the affections of the brethren , and would receive the benefit of their subscri ptions . They also had the senior Charity of the lot—the Girls' School—with which he was proud to

say he was intimately associated as a member of the House Committee , in connection with his friend , Bro . Matthews . The House Committee of that School were in touch not only with the Institution , but with the whole of the children . They made a point of acquainting themselves with the children . They attended to the work themselves . They did not leave it absolutely to the Secretary , but the work of the Institution purposely went through the members of the Committee . He

did not think he was going very far wrong when he said , and he admitted it with pride , that Bro . Matthews and himself could pick out two-thirds of the children educated there . The attention they gave vvas amply rewarded by the money subscribed to the Institution , which was well spent and well applied . They could go by results in that matter . This year they found that out of 18 children entered for the Cambridge Local Examinations they passed the lot , and 10 with honours .

The next examination they took was the College of Preceptors , because they went on the ground that no child should leave without a certificate of merit . Thirtyseven offered themselves , and 31 passed , several of them passing very hi gh indeed . Beside those examinations , there were others coming on in a month , but the result of those he could not guess , though he had no fear but that they would equal those of previous year . Out of the 30 they sent up , they passed 29 , and he thought that was good work . The children , too , were healthy , notwithstanding all their

work . He congratulated the province upon having one child—Ethel Croft , aged only 13—well up in the June list . The great object was fitting the girls for after life . At the present time they had 270 children , and were enlarging the place for another 30 , so they would see that the money subscribed at the Centenary—£ 50 , 000—had been properly spent . Their first care was to fit the children for their duties in life , and , without putting them to menial work , they were taught those duties . They made their own beds and their own clothes , and the education they taught them fitted them for any station in life in which they might afterwards see them .

Bro . VICKERS said some doubt or suspicion had been cast upon them in Lincolnshire with regard to the central Masonic Charities , and in some of the Masonic papers it had been said that they were glad enough to avail themselves of the Masonic Charities and not send any subscriptions . Had that been the case they would not have been able to get their candidates in as they had done in past years . He could refer to the present position of the Charities , and show that they were loyal at heart to those Charities . So soon as they had got together

those provincial funds , so soon they should bend their attention to the o-eneral Charities . They had sent several subscriptions up , and Bro . Cousans had been Steward to the Province several times , and although he had never been Steward himself , they had succeeded in getting Stewards , who would take up £ 600 to the Girls' Festival this year . This showed that while they were willing to work at home they were loyal to the central Charities and would do their best to support them . While he kept the position he did he should be glad to urge those claims upon the Province .

The toast of "The Visiting Brethren" vvas next given by Bro . Watkins , and responded to by Bro . E . Armitage , P . P . S . G . W . Cumberland ; Bro . Speth . Secretary Quatuor Coronati Lodge , and Bro . Le Fay , W . M . St . Hugh Lodge . " The Health of the Officers of the Lodge " and the T yler ' s toast concluded a highly successful and enjoyable meering . The lodge was furnished by Bro . George Kenning .

Consecration Of The Broxbourne Lodge, No. 2353.

CONSECRATION OF THE BROXBOURNE LODGE , No . 2353 .

The consecration of the Broxbourne Lodge , No . 2353 , took place at the Crown Hotel , Broxbourne , on Tuesday , the 22 nd ult . The chair was occupied b y Bro . T . F . Halsey , M . P ., Prov . G . M . Herts , who was assisted in his duties by his Deputy P . G . M ., Bro . G . E . Lake ; and Bros . Edward Taylor , Prov . S . G . W . ; W . H . Norris , Prov . J . G . W . ; the Rev . George Lifting-, P . Prov . G . Chap ., as Prov . G . Chap .

Charles Bullock , P . Prov . G . Reg ., Prov . G . Secretary ; and James Terry , P . G . S . B ., P . Prov . J . G . W ., Prov . G . D . C The following were present in the capacity of founders , namely •. Bros . E . C . Mulvey , W . Rooke , and S . Lichtenfeld , W . M ., S . W ., and J . W . designate respectively ; and Bros . Chas . B . Cooper , Sec . pro tern . ; H . Lichtenfeld , H . G . Holland , E . J . Gittins , Henry Mason , and A . E . Carter . There was also a very formidable array of visitors , amongst whom

were—Bros . D . P . Cama , P . G . Treas . ; T . S . Carter , P . M . 403 , P . P . J . G . W . ; M . Slaughter , P . M . 404 , P . P . J . G . W . ; Charles E . Keyser , W . M . 2323 P . M . 404 , P . P . J . G . W . ; P > r . y W . Taylor , P . M ., Sec . 409 , P . P . J . G . W . ; H . C . Heard , P . M . 449 , P . P . J . G D . ; P . L . Blackmore , W . M . ; W . Gilbert , P . M ., P . P . J . G . W . ; W . A . Rogers , P . M ., P . P . J . G . D . ; G . Holdworth , P . M ., P . P . G . S . ; W . M . Metcalfe , I . G . ; J . Tydeman , P . M ., P . P . Asst . G . Purst . Essex ; R . Middlehurst , J . W . ; W . Warren , H . Beal , F . Godfrey , L . Speellman , H . Ghole , and J . Robins , all of 1327 ; W . A . Dingle , M . D ., W . M . SCg , Nash

P . G . P ., J . D . S . Sim , I . G . 404 ; A . W . , P . M . 409 , P . P . A . G . D . C . ; F . J . Myers , P . M . 1479 , P . P . A . G . D . C ; A . Rattray , P . M . 2136 , P . P . Asst . G . Sec . Essex ; F . K . Adams , 20 S 6 ; R . Brazier , S . W . 2136 ; P . G . Stwd . ; H . H . Shirley , 1491 ; C . A . Pugh , 1624 ; W . Chapman , 2136 ; VV . Rowe , P . M . 1543 ; Walter Lovell , 504 ; James Bott , 917 ; George Parsons and E . Slater , I . G ., of 213 O ; Dr . N . Goodchild , 90 ; James Kerr , 179 ; G . S . Ward and C . N . Madgin , J . W ., of 20 S 6 ; VV . R . Palmer , 143 ; James Kift , 1791 ; J . Bayne , 16 97 ; J . W . Duvall , 404 , F . Vallentine , 101 7 , and Richard Whiting , Tyler .