Provincial Grand Lodge Of Devon.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF DEVON .

A special Provincial Grand Lodge of Devon was held at Huyshe Temple , Plymouth , on Wednesday , for the purpose of consecrating " Prudence" Lodge , No . 1550 . The originators of the latest addition to the Masonic strength of the West were Bro . R . G . Bird and Bro .

J . Rogers , the first Master and Junior Warden respectively . Their exertions ( aided by others , Bros . J . Gover and J . G . Avery among them ) in the matter , have been most arduous for the last three months , hut they have their just reward in the knowledge that the results

have exceeded their most sanguine anticipations . The suggestion of a new lodge arose in consequence of its being found that the evenings on which other lodges held their meetings were most inconvenient for business men , who , absent during the early part of the week , returned to

Plymouth towards the end . This lodge , therefore , is formed for " the purpose of removing this inconvenience , and will hold its meetings on Fridays . The lodge has fixed its initiation fee at ten guineas and its joining fee at two guineas . At their first meeting they will initiate five

brethren—the largest number they can admit on any one night—and the names of others are down for subsequent nights . Seven joining members will also be balloted for on the first night . When the lodge has reached a certain strength it is the intention to still further increase

the fees . The first officers named on the warrant are R . G . Bird , W . M . ; J . G . Avery , S . W . ; J . P . Rogers , J . W . J . B . Gover , Sec . ; J . J . Avery , Treas . ; R . B . Twose , I . P . M . ; B . N . Westcott , S . D . ; J . G . Keverne , J . D . ; F . B . Bond , I . G . ; Rev . J . Whittley , Chaplain ; G . H .

Emery , Organist ; W . Garland , D . C . C . Philip , A . D . C . ; R . R . Pengelly , S . S ., and W . B . Hambly , J . S . The lodge having been opened in ancient form , the P . G . M . apologized for the delay

occasioned by the railway accident , and then remarked that it was particularly gratifying to him to be called upon to consecrate so important a lodge as that which they were about to consecrate .

Tlie new lodge was then ably opened by W . M . Bird , and Bro . Rogers , P . G . Sec , read the warrant from tlie Grand Master ( H . R . H . the Prince of Wales ) constituting the lodge , and tlie brethren of the lodge having assented to tlie nomination of the officers , P . D . G . M . Metham , at the call of the P-G . M . delivered the following oration : —

Right Worshipful Sir , —By your command I have undertaken the task which it has so often previously been my pleasing duty to perform of delivering the usual oration ; a duty made on this occasion more onerous , as the same address must , from want of time , serve for both

the Consecration of the Prudence Lodge and Huyshe Chapter . Unfortunately the duty is required of me at a time when I have been overwhelmed with most urgent and anxious engagements elsewhere , and I must ask the indulgence of the brethren if I am not able to place before them so concisely and clearly as I

could wish , the important points on which I have to address them . But before all other topics I must speak of the honour done to our Craft by the acceptance by H . ll . H . the Prince of Wales of the leadership of our Order . Who that witnessed that matchless spectacle will ever forget it ; who is there " with soul so dead" as

, even now , to delight in conjuring up before Ins mind ' s eye that vast and grand picture in which figured all that is good , great , and noble in Masonry ? Who is there so thoughtless as not to look beneath the surface and see , clear as the sun at noonday , that the many thousands who had gathered on that day from the north , 11 he

south , the east , and thc west , the noble and the learned , the statesman , tlie minister of religion , tlie advocate , tlie physician , tlie merchant , the tradesman , tlie soldier , the sailor , and the sons of toil , came not only to do homage to a Royal Chief , all sufficient as such a season night , at any other time be esteemed . They

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Devon.

came in their thousands to shout down the taunting cry , and unjust imputation that they were disloyal to the State or unfaithful to true religion . They came to show the whole world that tlie noble tree of Masonry was still sound to the core , and still more vigorous than ever ,

although one branch had unhappily fallen to the ground . It devolves now upon Masons to show not only in the lodge , but in" society , and in their daily lives , of how noble an Order they are the members . Masonry has done much- for you all , and she has a right

to expect that you should do much for her . I come now to the best mode of ensuring such a standard of moral character in our members as shall enable us to maintain the proud position our Order has reached , and to prevent its retrograding . The indiscriminate , and often culpable

manner in which unfit and unworthy persons are admitted into the Order , is doing the greatest injury , and will eventually sap its towers and undermine its foundations , unless all lodges unite in enforcing more stringent rules as to the admission of candidates . I have given long and

serious ' consideration to the remedies requisite , and in my mind , they resolve themselves into two heads , pecuniary , and what is much more important , moral . I believe tlie fee for initiation should never be below . £ 10 ios ., and that every lodge should pay towards charitable

objects , giving a preference to those of a Masonic character , at least 5 s . for each member , independent of Grand Provincial , or Private Lodge subscriptions . Secondly . —That even' Master and his

Wardens should be required to make themselves acquainted by private inquiry with the social position and moral qualities of every candidate for initiation , and whether he had ever been proposed in any other Lodge . That the name of no candidate who resides at a distance from

the lodge in which he is proposed , shall be placed in the circular for initiation until the most searching inquiries have been made as to the reason why he was not proposed in a lodge nearer to his place of residence . That the Emergency Clause should be more rigidly

enacted . That every candidate should pledge himself not to use thc Masonic emblems on any sign-board , flag , card , or paper connected with his calling . That no member of a lodge who has compounded with his creditors , shall be allowed to

continue as a subscribing member until his debts have been paid in full . Such , my brethren , are some ofthe suggestions I would offer for the adoption of those lodges which sincerely desire to sustain tlie dignity and integrity of the order .

I turn from that which is at all times an unplesant task to one more consonant with Masonic feelings and particularly congenial to myself . I allude to that splendid display of Masonic benevolence which the United Provinces of Devonshire and Cornwall made on tlie occasion of his

Royal Highness tlie Duke of Edinburgh placing the memorial stone of the Royal British Female Orphan Asylum , with whicli I am so personally and intimately connected . In private lodges and to private members of the craft , I have had some opportunities of expressing my grateful

thanks for that munificent contribution , now amounting , with other donations from other parts of England , to nearly 1 , 250 guineas , including 25 guineas from the Royal Patron ofthe Fund H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , Grand Master . I eagerly embrace this opportunity of thanking

you , and I cannot express how sincerely . The impression made on the public mind is favourable to Freemasonry ; its benefits will be felt by many an orphan of our brave but unfortunate brethren whose lives may be sacrificed . It is right that you should know that during the late election , out of 150 candidates , there were

no less than three orphans of our deceased brethren , of whom two were elected , and the other , who was only brought to our knowledge at a very late period , by the W . M . of the lodge at Weymouth , Br . Hooper , son of our esteemed Br . Hooper , of Exeter , will , I trust , by your votes be elected next year . And now Worshipful Sir and Brethren , I earnestly commend the good

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Devon.

work in which we have been engaged to-day to the care of Him who is the ruler and architect of this as of all works . The Master and members of the new lodge having pledged to obey the laws and

constitution of the Grand Lodge , the P . G . M . declared the " Prudence" Lodge , regularly and duly constituted , and proceeded with the impressive ceremony of consecration , in which lie was assisted by P . G . S . W . Col . Elliott , and P . C . J . W .

I . Latimer , the Revs . T . W . Lemon , and the Rev . G . Whittley , P . G . Chaplains . The musical portion of the ceremony was effectively rendered by a small choir , Bro . Emery presiding at the harmonium .

The lodge having been closed in due form , several of the brethren adjourned to an adjoining room , where Bro . R . G . Bird was installed W . M . of" Prudence , " and he afterwards appointed his officers as stated above .

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF DEVON . Immediately afterwards the Provincial Grand Chapter of Devonshire met for the consecration ofthe " Huyshe" Chapter , 1099 , under the presidency of the Rev . J . Huyshe , G . Supt . of R . A . Masons . The beautiful consecration

ceremony was wanting m nothing to give it that solemnly impressive character which marks it . The chief burden , of course , fell upon the G . Supt ., but he received valuable assistance from Principals Metham , H ., and Rogers , J . The

officers appointed to the new chapter were Pr . Brown , Z . ; Gillman , H . ; and Blackhall , J . The ordinary business of Grand Chapter was then transacted . Scribe E . ( Comp . Rogers ) having reported a balance in hand of - £ 63 , some

time was occupied in disposing of it amongst various charities . Comp . Rodda mentioning that Comp . Curteis had become a steward of the Masonic School for Boys , for the present year , moved that Grand Chapter had the

privilege of being represented on his list . Comp . Du Pre seconded this . Prin . Rae proposed that the sum be twenty guineas , but this was lost . Finally a sum of fifteen guineas was granted , on the motion of Comp . Colonel Elliott ( Comp .

Rodda withdrawing the original motion ) , to Comp . Curteis for the Boys' School . On the motion of Comp . Harris , 20 guineas was voted to the Fortescue Fund * and at the suggestion of Comp . Jones , seconded by Comp .

Gover , 10 guineas were voted to the Masonic School for Girls . Comp . Leigh moved that 10 guineas be given to the Royal British Female Orphan Asylum , Stoke , which was still in want of .- £ 1 , 500 . Comp . J . Harris asked if this was

not the same institution to whicli the Freemasons had given , £ 1 , 250 . He did not anticipate that any other claim would be made on them , especially as it was an institution outside Masonry . Comp . the Rev . J . Whittley contended that

nothing that was good and honourable , * md no effort which had for its object the relief of the distressed and especially the succour of the orphans was outside the principles of Masonry . ( Applause . ) Tlie motion

having been carried with one dissentient , Comp . Metham heartily thanked the brethren for another proof of their interest in an institution he had so much at heart . It too , had enabled Masons to erect a memorial to the world . Twelve months ago lie believed that if

he could raise from the brethren £ 200 it would be a great tiling . Later on it was his hope that they would contribute one-eighth of the cost ; but now he was glad to tell them that with what was promised the Freemasons would raise onefourth part of the £ 6 , 000 expended on the extension of tlie Asylum . ( Applause . )

On the motion of Comp . Leigh , two guineas were voted to the Masonic bed at the Royal Albert Hospital . The Grand Superintendent then proceeded to appoint his officers for the ensuing year , Comps . Metham , H . ; Rogers , Scribe E .:

Captain Keyworth , J . ; Burden , 303 , Scribe N . ; J . P . Phillips , P . S . Godstchalk , S . B . Dr . H . Woodgates , G . Reg . ; Emery , O . ; Wolloughby , A . S . ; and Twose , D . C . Comps . W . Joll had previously been elected as Secretary , and J . Harris and T . S . Bayly as Auditors .