Consecration Of The Mendelssohn Lodge, No. 2661.

a thing which spoke to men ' s souls , and hearts , and lives more powet fully than anything else in the world , and therefore he thought a musical lodge presided over by Bro . Stevens would speak not merely to London , lo the world , and tre Masonic universe , but would strengthen and give power to Masonry , while it would strensjtl en itself and the W . M .

Bro . CIIAKI . ES S n : \ r ,. \ s \ W . M ., in responding to the toast , assumed the brethren that he considered it a very great honour indeed to be chosen to preside over this lodge composed of members of a musical club who had entirely got it up . They asked him to be their W . M . Twenty years ago he was Master of a lodge , and although that long time had elapsed since he performed the ceremonies , he hoped to rub up his memory . However ,

they had appointed him their first Master , and he was extremely grateful for that . He hopi d they would have a successful year . He should make laige calls on his officers , because he believed in doing the ceremonies perfectly or not at all . He begged to assure the brethren from the very bottom of his heart that he was extremely grateful to the brethren for putting him in this very honourable position as Master of this lodge . For all the

kind words which had passed from his friend on his right ( Bro . Brownrigg ) , when he said that music moved the universe , he thanked him , but wondered where lie was going to next . He knew it moved London , and that was enough for them , and if they could forward the cause of music in London they would be satisfied . He thought the South London Musical Club ought lo make this a good musical lodge . He hoped they would have many nice musical evenings in the lodge .

Bro . CIIAKI . ES STEVENS , W . M ., in proposing the toast of "The Visitors , " said it was a source of great satisfaction to him to see so many Past Masters present . It was a young lodge , but he hoped it might take its stand as a lodge happy to receive visitors . They owed a debt of gratitude to the OrtliDus Lodge , the recommending lodge .

Bro . SUTTON Siinri . EV , W . M . Orpheus Lodge , replying , said when he came there that day he never thought he should be called upon to reply to such an important toast as this . There were many visitors present who would reply better than he ; but being called upon to speak he would try to do his utnios ' . It had been his especial privilege to be W . M . of the Orpluus Lodge during this commemorative year of her Majesty ' s reign ,

and during that year he had received every encouragement and every pi asure he could possibly expect from the brethren of a great and nurrerous lodge . Perhaps that lodge had a list of the greatest number of subscribing members of any lodge in London—certainly of a musical lodge . Of all the events of the year he thought the greatest was when Bio . Hennings , its Secretary , asked him to recommend

the Mendelssohn Lodge . Being a Sjuth Londjn man and a musical man ; he thought that was the best thing he could do ; and it had bet n his greatest pleasure to act as sponsor of that lodge . From what he had seen that day , he was sure the Mendelssohn Lodge would go , and b 2 as great a success as his lodge , if not more so than the Orpheus Lodge . For

the rest of the vis tors , he said it had been a great pleasure to be present that evening to enjoy the banquet and entertainment and the working of the lodge ; although it could not-be called Mendelssohn working , still it was a treat to him , an i as he would hava the ceremony of installation to perform , it was a great advantage to him to be able to see the installat ' -on so well performed by the G and Secretary .

liro . LN ' SKII'I ' , S . W ., replying to the toast of " The Officers , said he wis afraid the W .. M . had somewhat 11 ittcred those brethren ; but he could -ay for his own part—and he thought he could speak for his brother officers — that they intended to do their very best to make the Mendelssohn Lodge second to none in London . It had been to the W . M . a very fond idea , as it had been to him ( Bo . Inskipp ) , many years , that they should have a lodge

conni cted with the S Jiuh Lendon Musical Society . It was a great pride to him to come there that evening , knowing that the wish cherished so long had at last become an accomplished fact . Having become an accomplished fact , he thought it behoved all the founders to do everything in their power to lose no opportunity of promoting the success of the lodge ; as they were

told in the beautiful oration they had heard—that whatever they did in the lodi . e or out of the lodge , in their business or profession , they were to do their very best . He thought they were all animated with that spirit , and th ; . t they would no * bs found wanting in doing their utmost to make that ledge what they hoped it would be—a very great success .

Bio . PEACHEY , Treas ., said perhaps it was appropriate that he , being this year the President of the South London Musical Club , should be elected Treasurer of this lodge . As the S . W . had said , it had been a cheris ' ied idta for some years to get a lodge consecrated . He felt very proud ind ( cd to be the lirst Treasurer . Having a keen sense of finance and trust money , ev . ry penny he got from the lodge would be carefully

considered ar . d very faithfully administered . All he wanted the brethren to do was to pay promptly . From the constituent qualities of the lodge , he was sure it woul i be a great success , both musicall y and Masonically ; and he consid'red it a very proud thing for him this year , being President of the S juth London Musical Club , lo have the honourof being the first Treasurer of the lodge . Bro . WJHTEMAN then gave the Tyler ' s toast , and the company separated .

Consecration Of The Philbrick Chapter, No. 1662.

CONSECRATION OF THE PHILBRICK CHAPTER , No . 1662 .

This chap ' . cf was toii ^ ecrated on the - . ' nd inst ., at the Great Eastern Hulel , Liverpool-htrcet . The Consecrating Officers appointed to take the duties of the day we- c : Comps . K . Letchworth ( G . Sec ) , Grand Scribe K . Thomas lunn , Giand Scribe N ., as IL ; His Honor Judge Philbrick Q-C , Grand Superintendent for l- ' . ssex , as J . ; Frank Richardson , P . A . G . '

Soj ., G . D . C , as D . C , and F . Mead , P . D . G . D . C , as Scribe N . ; but in consi ( pence of the al- e-nce of ( Jump . Philbrick , the chair of IL was occupied by ( amp . Richard Clowes , P . G . Std . lir .. and Comp . ' 1 homas Fenn took Comp . Phi , brick ' s chair of J . Thc other companions present were .-Gumps . Janus Piciiil'nn , I' . A . G . D . C : lames Bunker , 11 . i |/ l , | . 115 H ; Geor"e T . ]' . ¦ . ' . !! ' , VV .. . ' . -MI ; S . 5 R . Bv . kett . ' l ' . X . 250 :, P . P . G . X . Dorset ' ; G . II . Fennell

| . U : ^ ; In ] ,, 1 Hvford , („„ ., M . H . X . 334 , 237 . 1 ; W . T . Legg . II . [ . Lardner , I ' . / . S ; D . Gnnpirrll , | . 1403 ; II . Massey , I ' . M . on ,. and 11 . 12 *; " C . J . R . Tiju'i , II . elect i / in , I' . A . G . P . ling . ; C . M . Long , 22 5 ' ;; Christian IIM-SI , 1471 ; A . J . Skipp » r , 2501 ; (} . R . Hi , ' , vii , 2236 ; A . 1 '" . Lay , 2501 ; C . J . Smith , 2501 ; Dr . T . Scurcshy-Jackson , I ' . ' / .. 225 'i ; C . G . Pannell , 2301 ; II . li . Herman , 1365 ; Jo : ; c-nh Atkinson . 115 S ; \ . II . Whitty , 127 S ; C . Ii . Cutchey , 1471 ; W , 1 ) .

Consecration Of The Philbrick Chapter, No. 1662.

Church , 1471 ; Orlton Cooper , J . 4 S 3 and 192 S ; Dr . J . F . Haskins , P . P . G . Org . Essex ; C . E . Gratton , P . G . Org . Essex ; J . Tolhvorthy , M . E . Z . 141 ; John Hamilton , 2374 ; H . Sadler , G . Janitor ; Charles F . Grey , 120 ; Frederick Hughes , 192 , Thomas Welham , 2374 ; li . j . Lowther , 1307 ; J . F . Saunders , 1307 and 2501 ; and David Legg , P . ' / .. 1365 ; and the following founders of the

chapter , Comps . George Graveley , P . A . G . D . C ; l . Courtenay Warner , 2256 ; W . S . Hooper , 24 S 8 ; Ii . R . Alexander , 2256 ; VV . Garner , 2472 ; J . C . Francis , 2576 ; Amos Oakdcn , jun ., 2472 ; Sydney Fortescue , 2256 ; T . H . Lloyd , 2374 ; John R . Carter , 2501 ; J . H . Wildash , 141 ; H . Osborne , 2374 ; Ben lohnson , 2374 ; Archdeacon Dunbar , 1716 ; and W . Harris , 10 .

Ihe musical arrangements were under the direction of Comp . J . F . Haskins , Ph . Doc , P . P . G . O . Essex , P . G . O . Herts , who was assisted by Comps . W . A . Frost and Alfred Kenningham , of St . Paul ' s Cathedral , and T . H . Lloyd . After the chapter had been opened ,

Comp . LETCH WORTH , addressing the companions , said they were met for the purpose of undertaking a very important and interesting ceremonythe consecration of a new Royal Arch chapter and its dedication to the service of the True and Living God Most High . The chapter they were about to start into existence would be attached to the Beaconsfield Lodge ,

which had had a very successful career during its 18 years of existence , and the companion chosen for the First Principal was well known to all the companions as having done probably as much as any Mason for the good of Masonry , and under whose able rule that chapter would no doubt have a very successful career . That it might have such a career was the wish of every companion .

Comp . FRANK RICHARDS IN , G . D . C , then read the dispensation authorising the chap'cr to be consecrated at the Great Eastern Hotel , there not being sufficient accommodation at Walthamstow , where the chapter is to meet , for the large number of companions who had arranged to attend the consecration . Comp . THOMAS FENN delivered an oration on the principles of ihe Order .

Thc ceremony of consecration was then proceeded with , and at its conclusion Comp . Letchworth placed Comp . William Shurmur , Past Provincial Grand J . E > -sex , in the chair of M . E . Z . Comp . Shurmur installed Comp . j . H . Wildash as H ., and Comp . William Harris as J . The other officers of the chapter were : Comps . D . H . McGowan , P . Z ., Acting I . P . Z . ;

H . I . Hallows . Treas . ; James Speller , P . Z ., Scribe E . ; George Graveley , P . Z ., Scribe N . ; Will-am Gower , H .-elect 2374 , P . Soj . ; J . R . Carter , ist A . S . ; W . S . Hoaper , 2 nd A . S . ; Ben Joinson , Z . elect 2374 , D . C . ; Dr . J . F \ Haskins , O g . ; J . C . Francis , and S . Fortescue , Stewards ; and T . J . Maidwell , Janitor .

On the motion of Comp . S HURMUR , seconded by Comp . GEORGE GRAVELEY , a vole of thanks was passed , and ordered to be entered on the minutes , to the Consecrating Officers , who were also elected honorary membc s of the chapter , for their services in attending to consecrate the chapter , and each was presented with a handsome cigar-case , filled with cigars , as a souvenir of the occasion .

The compliment was acknowledged by Comp . LETCHWORTH , who assured the companions that it had given the Consecrating Officers great pleasure lo attend and consecrate the chapter . A long list of names of Craft Masons desirous of joining the Royal Arch in this cliaptt r was then proposed and seconded .

On the motion ef Comp . WILDASH , H ., seconded by Comp . GRAVELEY , S . N ., Comp . Shurmur , M . E . Z ., was elected as Steward to represent the chap' . er at the Centenary Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys nixt year , when the Prince of Wales will preside . The chapter then

voted 20 guineas to Comp . Shurmur ' s list . Comp . SHURMUR thanked the companions , and expressed the hope that its individual members would subscribe to his list . Comp . GRAVELEY reminded the companions that he was Steward for the William Shurmur Chapter for the same Festival .

The chapter was then closed , and the companions adjourned to banquet , and afterwards honoured the usual toasts . Comp , W . SHURMUR , M . E . Z ., in proposing "The Queen and Royal Arch Ma'onry , " said that during her Majesty ' s glorious reign it had pleased the Almi g hty Architect in His unbounded goodness to shower upon this nation the blessings of peace , progress , and prosperity . Under the fostering

care of our h npress Queen , the liberal arts and sciences had prospered in an astonishing manner , not only at home , but also in our Colonies ; and when it was considered that at the commencement of her Majesty ' s reign there were only about 450 English lodges , and now there were 2200 , it was obvious that the noble science of Freemasonry had not been forgotten ; it had cnjo ) ed the entire confidence of the Queen , as well as her patronage and support .

In giving the next toast , "The Prince of Wales , M . E . G ' / -., " Comp . SHURMUR referred to the late Albert Hall meeting , and added that the Prince of Wales had given a further practical proof of his devotion to the Brotherhood , by consenting to preside at the Centenary Festival of the M isonic Boys' School . They hoped that on that occasion , it would require six figures in the £ column to express the amount donated .

The next toast , that of " The Pro Grand Z ., the Grand H . and ) ., and the rest ot the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " led Comp . SHURMUR to express the approval of thc Order on the excellent arrangements made by Comp . Thomas Fenn for the meeting at the Albert Hall . Comp . Thomas Fenn was an excellent organiser , besides which the companions had just seen that he was blessed with extraordinary ability and a most retentive memory . The oration he had delivered was most impressive , and would long remain in the companions' minds .

Comp . THOMAS FENN , in reply , said that through the unaccountable absence of Comp . Philbrick , he had been called upon absolutely without a moment ' s notice lo fulfil the important duties of Chaplain for the ceremony of consecration . If he had had thc advantage of half-an-hour ' s notice he would hive given a better address . He had only delivered the oration once bcfo : c , and that was many years ago , and therefore it required a little consideration beforehand to deliver it properly . Again he was called upon

at a moment ' s notice , without any opportunity of previously thinking on the subject , to respond for the Grand Offizers . He was under the impression that he was a Consecrating Ollijer , not that his name would be connected with that toast to reply , but that he would be proposed in the next toast . But as his name had been connected with this toast , he thanked the M . E . Z . very much for tlie complimentary terms he had used with reference lo him . At the recent meeting at the Albsrt Hall no doubt many thought it was a great responsibility for him to undertak ; at his advanced