Proceedings Of Grand Lodge Of Massachusetts, U.S.

Massachusetts , and on memorial to the Grand Lodge , a committee Avas appointed to examine the subject . The committee consisted of Bros . John Heard , AVinsloAV LeAvis , and Henry C . Wilson—the two former being Past Grand

Masters , and the latter brother the Master of the lodge . These brethren Avorked Avith a will , and have accumulated more evidence respecting the title of Lord Viscount Montague ( or Montacute ) than has ever been submitted on any question

ever delegated to a committee by a Grand Lodge . Much information Avas also privately obtained by Brother Jacob Norton , of Boston , the originator of the enquiry , and who supported the application for alteration in the

title from Montacute to Montague ; and the libraries of the Fraternity and of public institutions throughout the United States appear to have been ransacked in order to discover light and evidence to guide the committee in making

their report . The records and library of the Grand Lodge of England and of other societies in this country were also searched , and in fact nothing Avas left unexamined that Avas within the power of the committee to investigate . Some

idea of the extent of these researches may be formed from the fact that the report occupies one hundred pages octavo of closely-printed matter . The point at issue was , Avhether the name of the Grand Master of England 1732-3

was A / iscount Montague or Montacute ? The latter had been generally understood to be the case in the United States , but of late this opinion has been questioned , and hence the investigation . Plates of the arms of this ancient

family are inserted in the Avork , and several elaborate pedigrees are given of certain noble families connected with the Montagues or Montacutes . The heraldic researches are of a most voluminous character , and several Masonic

works from early in the last century to the present time are also presented in evidence . Of course , it is impossible to give an adequate description of the labour of the committee in a few words ; suffice it , however , to say that the

report does them infinite credit , and is a monument of industry and research . AVe have always advocated the title of Lord Viscount Montague or Montagw ( and not Montacute ) , and are pleased to find the committee concur in recommending the alteration of the name of the

lodge from Montacute to Montague . AA e have carefully examined the references of the committee to various Masonic Avorks , and find them uniformly correct . The following books , however , not having been noticed by them , wc submit the result of our researches as a humble

contribution towards so exhaustive and interesting an inquiry : — " The Freemason ' s Pocket Companion" ( Edinburgh , A . D . 1761 ) , page 145 , has Lord Vise . Montacute , Grand Master . " Candid Disquisitions . " by AVellins Calcott ,

P . M . ( London , 1769 ) , page 92 ; Scott ' s "Pocket Companion" ( London , 1754 ) , pages 108 and 18 7 ; and the " Masonic Miscellanies , " by Stephen Jones , ist edition 1797 , 2 nd edition A . D . 1811—have all Anthony Brown , Lord

Viscount Montacute , as Grand Master . As the edition of the " Constitutions " of A . D . 1756 to 178 4 perpetrated this error , we need not Avonder at other authors , who mainly copied the historical parts of these Avorks , making a similar

blunder . Independent Avorks , however , like " Preston ' s Illustrations" ( from an early date down to the last edition ) are in favour of Montague , and what is of some importance in the inquiry , but Avhich seems to have been

overlooked by the indefatigable committee , the " Freemasons' Calendars , " published under the sanction of the Grand Lodge of England , sup-Port the titleas the committee report , viz ., Anthony •Brown Lord Viscount Montague . AVe have looked

, through these calendars in our library ( which are now very scarce ) from A . D . 1781 to 1810 , and nnd that the Grand Master for A . D . 1732-3 is always recorded according to the patent of

September , 1554 , which was Montague , as certified b y Bro . Sir Albert AV . AVoods , Garter . We have to thank the Grand Master of Massachusetts for so kindly forwarding us a copy of these "Proceedings . " WILLIAM JAMES HUGHAN

Consecration Of The "Marquis Of Zorne" Lodge, No. 1354, At Leigh.

CONSECRATION of the "MARQUIS of ZORNE" LODGE , No . 1354 , at LEIGH .

The last day of May , 1871 , was a red-letter day in the annals of the quiet yet busy manufacturingtown of Leigh , Lancashire . The Craft , indeed , is no stranger at Leigh , but many years have elapsed

since it had " a name and a habitation " there . A change , however , has " come o ' er the scene ; " new blood has been infused , and we opine a bright future for the mystic art in that locality . Wc are constrained to this conclusion because the town is

remarkably well situated , and the W . M ., Wardens and promoters generally of the new lodge are imbued with a thorough Masonic zeal and determination which is sure to command success . Your correspondent was a visitor on the occasion , and having arrived at the scene of action some sixty minutes before the commencement of the

ceremonial , had an opportunity of inspecting the rooms ( which are private ) and the furniture . Nothing in the one case could be more complete , or in the other more chaste and beautiful . The lodge-room , though small , is well proportioned , and lighted from the east and south . The ante-room is at once spacious and replete with every convenience . The furniture

( which was supplied by Bro . Geo . Kenning , and is all that could be desired ) is of polished oak and of excellent workmanship . Everything concerning the formation of the lodge seems to have been conceived in a proper spirit and certainly carried out with a zeal which does the promoters infinite credit . May all its future proceedings be characterised by a similar spirit !

The interesting ceremony of consecration was to have been performed by the V . AVorshipful Deputy Grand Master of the province , the Right Hon . Lord Skelmersdale , but in his unavoidable absence the R . W . Prov . G . M . was represented by Brother A . C . Mott ( 148 , 241 , 823 , 101 3 , 1086 , 1335 , P . M ., P . Z .,

P . Prov . S . G . D ., and P . Prov . G . S . W . ) , who was attended officially , by Brother H . S . Alpass , Prov . Grand Secretary . A lodge was opened by the consecrating officer , assisted by Brothers John Bowes ( P . M ., P . Z ., P . P . G . R . Cumberland and AVestmorland , and P . G . S . B . AVest Lancashire ) , as S . W . ;

D . AV . Finney ( P . M ., M . E . Z . 148 ) , as J . AV . ; Dr . S . D . Lees ( P . P . S . G . AV . East Lancashire ) , J . Barker ( P . P . G . Treas . East Lancashire ) , Jos . Leach ( P . M . P . Z . 300 ) , Dr . J . F . Pennington ( P . M . 484 ) , Nat . Dumbille ( 152 ) , J . C Gillman ( AV . M . 1345 ) , AV . S . Hawkins ( 1250 ) , J . Smith ( 300 ) , I . Kershaw ( 300 ) ,

John Fogg ( 484 ) , John Bury ( J . AV . 325 ) , D . P . Isherwood ( S . AV . 325 ) , R . F . Woodruff ( AV . M . 325 ) , Thos . J . Broadbcnt ( AV . M . 430 ) , Fred . Cook ( P . M . 300 ) , Jos . Taylor ( P . M . 300 ) , Ed . Bcswick ( 1134 ) , G . P . Brockbank . ( P . M . 221 ) , Jas . Pilkington ( 37 ) , C . E . AVright ( 155 , Philadelphia , U . S . ) , Jas . Kirkpatrick

( 286 , New York , U . S . ) , B . Standen , H . Heap ( 300 ) , besides the AV . M .-designate and officers about to be installed and invested , who were arranged in order . Thc lodge having been opened in the three degrees , the PresidingOfficcr addressed the brethren

on the nature of the convocation , and then called on the Prov . Grand Secretary to state the wishes of the brethren and the proceedings they had taken with respect to thc lodge . This part of the programme completed , the G . Sec . read the petition

and warrant , and the brethren of the new lod ge expressed their approval of thc officers named therein . Thc Consecrating Officer then called upon the acting Chaplain to deliver an oration , after which the choir , under the direction of Bro . Bcswick , sang thc following anthem : —

Behold , how good and joyful a thing it is : brethren to dwell together in unity . It is like the precious ointment upon the head , that ran down unto the beard : even unto Aaron's beard , and went down to the skirts of his clothing . Like as thc dew of Ilermon : which fell upon the hill of Sion . For there the Lord promised His blessing : and life for evermore .

Then followed the first portion of the Consecration Prayer , and the chant , "Glory be to Thee , O Lord , " and the Invocation . The Lodge was now uncovered , and Bros . Alpass , Lees , and Barker carried thc vessels containing corn , wine and oil thrice round the lodge , to solemn music , and halting in the East , | the following anthem was sung by the choir : —

Glory be to God on high , Peace on earth , Good-will towards men . The acting Chaplain then carried the censer three times round the lodge , and halting in the East .

Consecration Of The "Marquis Of Zorne" Lodge, No. 1354, At Leigh.

delivered the second portion of the Consecration Prayer . The choir then sang the following anthem : —

Glory to God on high , Let heaven and earth reply , Praise ye His name ; Masons His love adore , Tyled in their mystic lore , And cry out evermore Glory to God !

The Presiding Officer now solemnly constituted the lodge in ancient form , and the ceremonial of consecration was concluded by the singing of the Hallelujah Chorus . The lodge was resumed in the second degree , when Bro . J . T . Lancashire , W . M .-designate , was

presented by Bros . Dr . Lees and Barker to the Presiding Officer for the benefit of installation , to whom the summary of the ancient charges , & c ., was read by the Prov . G . Sec . That portion of the ceremony proper to this degree being concluded , the lodge was resumed in the third degree , and all below the

rank of InstalledMaster were requested to reUre , \ vhen a Board was duly opened at which eighteen brethren were present . This done , the W . M .-designate was solemnly installed into the chair of K . S . and proclaimed and saluted . Bro . J . Longworth was invested as I . P . M . The Board of Installed . Masters

having been closed , the M . M . ' s , F . C . ' s , and E . A . ' s were successively admitted and saluted the W . M ., who was duly proclaimed on each occasion from the east , west , and south . The AV . M . then appointed and invested the following brethren as officers for the ensuing year , viz .:

—Bros . James Jackson , S . AV . ; Joseph Hartley , J . W . ; W . Bryce , Treas . ; George Dickenson , Hon . Sec . ; Robt . Nield , S . D . ; AV . Duncan , J . D . ; Thos . Smith , I . G . ; H . Heap , Tyler . Bro . Mott performed the whole of the ceremonies

in a manner which met with the unanimous approval of all present . There being no further business , the lodge was closed and the brethren adjourned to the Drill-shed for

THE BANQUET . Thc room was tastefully decorated , and the dinner , which was served by Mr . and Mrs . Rothwell , of the George and Dragon Hotel , gave universal

satisfaction . Grace before meat was said by the Prov . Grand Secretary , and after dinner Non Nobis Avas sung by the choir . Bro . Barker kindly discharged the duties of

Toastmaster . The cloth having been Avithdrawn thc following toasts were drank : — Bro . Lancashire , W . M ., said he regretted exceedingly that their Liverpool friends , Bros . Alpass and Mott , were obliged . to leave them , but such was the

case , and he was unwilling that they should do so without having an opportunity of speaking a few words to them ; he therefore begged to call upon Bros . Alpass and Mott to address the brethren . Bro . Alpass , Prov . G . Sec , said that his visits to Leigh were of a very pleasant nature . He did not

know when he had been more pleased than he had that day . From the AV . M . downwards , they seemed to be imbued by a truly Masonic spirit , and that augured well for the future . He was much pleased that they had been enabled to secure private rooms ' for he believed the time was fast approaching when

Masons would cease to meet in houses of public entertainment . He regretted that they were obliged to leave so early ; but he always made it a rule to be at home early whenever he attended a Masonic banquet . He commended the dractice to all present , and concluded by proposing the health of the W . M .

( Cheers . ) Bro . Capt . Mott said he was well pleased with the work of the day . He could endorse all that the Prov . G . Sec . had said , and he counselled all to do their duty individually , and their lodge would flourish . The AV . M . had impressed him with the belief that he was thc right man in thc right place ,

and that being so , he was sure his selection of officers would be good . Bro . Mott then dilated in eloquent terms at some length on the excellency of Masonry , and concluded by joining Bro . Alpass in wishing the AV . M . health and happiness during his period of office . ( Cheers . )

Bros . Alpass and Mott then withdrew , amid the hearty cheers of those assembled . The AV . M ., on rising to propose "The Queen , " said it was always found on a Masonic toast list , and Her Majesty had no more loyal subjects than Masons . ( Drank with all honours . )

God save the Queen . " The W . M . next proposed " H . R . H . Bro . Albert Edward Prince of Wales , the Princess of Wales , and the rest of the Royal Family . " He said no words of his were needed to ensure for the toast

a hearty reception . His Royal Highness was allied to them as a brother , and he believed he was " a good man and true . " ( Drank with great enthusiasm . ) " God Bless thc Prince of Wales . "