Provincial Grand Lodge Of Durham.

Bro . W . Atkinson , 1643 ... ... ... Prov . Asst . G . Purst , „ W . H . McLean , 1274 ... ... ... 1 „ J . W . Chater , 1119 ;; ^ BLW » 4 ::: ::: ::: ^ - G . steward , „ C . J . Seaman , 2104

,, L . R . Davies , 949 ... ... ... J ,, T . Grieve ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . The Provincial Grand Lodge was afterwards closed . A banquet was subsequently held in the Royal Assembly Hall , the

Provincial Grand Master presiding . Over 100 brethren sat down to the repast . The extra decorations of the hall were carried out by Bro . Walter Ross , 1970 . Through the kindness of Mr . Richard Thornton , the members of his orchestral band were in attendance during the banquet , and , under the leadership of Bro . A . Grimmett , rendered a choice selection of music .

Consecration Of The Æsculapius Lodge, No. 2410.

CONSECRATION OF THE ? SCULAPIUS LODGE , No . 2410 .

This new lodge , promoted for the convenience of members of the medical profession in the London district , was consecrated on Friday , the 2 nd inst ., at the Cafe Royal , Regent-street . Bro . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , Grand Secretary , was the Consecrating Officer , and he was assisted in the performance of his onerous duties by Bros . Sir John B . Monckton , P . G . W .,

as S . W . ; Thomas Fenn , President Board of General Purposes , P . G . D ., as J . W . ; Rev . R . J . Simpson , P . G . Chap ., as Chap . ; Frank Richardson , P . G . D ., as D . C ; and Ralp h Gooding , M . D ., P . G . D ., as l . G . Bro . Wilhelm Ganz , P . G . Org ., officiated as Organist , and a choir , consisting of Bros . John Hodges , R . Raynham , T . Pitt , and R . Grice , sang the anthems and other musical portions of the attractive programme .

The room at the Cafe Royal in which the consecration was performed was a handsome and commodious one , but its capacity was not conveniently adequate to the large number of brethren who attended . These brethren were , besides the brethren already named , the founders of the lodge , viz : —

Bros . Brindley J ames , M . R . C . S ., P . M . 1441 ; Lennox Browne , F . R . C . S ., P . M . 2108 , & c ., Vice-President B . G . P . ; W . Ernest Pocock , M . D ., P . M . 18 91 , Mem . B . G . P . ; Deputy Inspector-General Ninnis , M . D ., RN , P . M . 1174 , P . P . G . D . Malta ; G . Danford Thomas , M . D ., 329 ; Thomas Dutton , M . D ., M . R . C . P ., P . M . 1726 ; Jacob Pickett , M . D ., 526 ; G . Crawford Thomson , M . B ., 973 ; T . Oldfield , P . M . 134 ; Anthony Nutt , L . S . A ., 976 ; H . Naunton Davies , M . R . C . S .,

P . M . 157 8 , P . P . J . G . W . ; Henry J . Frye , M . R . C . S ., 201 , P . P . G . Treas . ; E . H . Ezard , M . B ., 171 ; W . Holman Kirbey , M . R . C . S ., 665 , P . P . G . S . Dorset , P . P . G . S . of W . Devon ; Matthew Coates , M . D ., P . M . 1 , Victoria , Columbia ; H . W . Kiallmark , M . R . C . S ., P . M . 1608 ; Montague S . W . Gunning , L . R . C . P ., 572 ( S . C ); J . Rudd Leeson , M . D ., 7 88 ; Walter C . Blaker , M . R . C . S ., 1726 ; and as visitors , Bros . Col . J . Elliott , D . G . M . Barbados ; Admiral Sir E . A . Inglefield ,

J . G . W . ; George Everett , G . Treas . ; Sir George D . Harris , P . G . D . ; Dr . Jabez Hogg , P . G . D . ; M . Tennant , P . A . G . D . C ; T . B . Purchas , P . A . G . D . C ; John L . Mather , P . A . G . D . C . ; Thos . Hastings Miller , G . S . B . ; Charles Fred . Hogard , P . G . Std . Br . ; C F . Matier , P . G . Std . Br . ; Wilhelm Ganz , P . G . Org . ; H . Sadler , G . Tyler ; Richard Carey , 1441 ; Stephen Lavis , P . M . 157 8 ; W . R . Davies , P . M . 1 578 ; Robert Raynham Weed , 1706 ; A . H . Markham ,

257 ; Walter Satchell , late 7 ; C . J . Coombs , P . M . 700 ; B . H . Paul , P . G . S ., P . M . 197 , W . M . 2399 ; C . H . Walter Parkinson , P . M . and Sec . 682 , P . P . J . G . W . Dorset ; George Read , P . M . 521 ; Frank Williams , W . M . 101 ; J . Hodges , P . M . 1706 ; R . J . Pitt , 1329 , Org . 1728 ; A . K . Prescott , P . M . 5 82 ; W . J . West ; H . H . Shirley ; J . Grant Lane , 2183 ; Robert Grice . 1390 ;

H . Massey , 160 , P . M . 619 , P . M . and Treas . 1928 ; W . J . Walsham , P . M . 1491 ; A . Cadbury Jones , P . M . 1441 ; H . G . Allsworth , W . M . 1441 ; W . B . Janes ; S . H . Parkhouse , P . M . 1642 ; H . Harbord , 901 ; Thos . Trollope ; E . J . Tints , P . M . 194 ; C . M . Campbell , M . D ., late 16 35 ; John While , P . M . 228 ; John Barnett , jun . ; and Dundas Grant .

Bro . Col . SHADWELL H . CLERKE , after the formal opening of the lodge said that the occasion on which the brethren were met was one of those important events in Masonry which from time to time occurred in the County of London , being none other than the consecration of a lodge for which a ws . rrant had been granted by the M . W . G . M . The number in the Metropolitan area was now 385 , and , therefore , the brethren could understand

that new lodges were not warranted unless some very good and substantial reasons were given for their existence . The existence of the / Esculapius Lodge was one of those cases which had more particularl y of late years occurred of lodges being formed by a class of brethren who in the outside world were bound together by a particular tie , and these lodges had obtained the name of class lodges . Now , although he mi g ht point out that

no lodges strictly confined to a particular class of persons could be acknowledged by United Grand Lodge of England , yet , by an understanding among the members , arrangements could be made for preserving them for a particular class of the community . The / Esculapius Lodge was intended to be one of these lodges , because there were in London a large number of eminent members of one of the

most learned professions—the profession of medicine—who desired to band themselves together and had petitioned the Grand Master to grant them a warrant so that in a lodge the ) ' might cement those friendships which outside its portals they had formed . After very careful consideration the Grand Mastcr came to the conclusion that the case was a strong one , and he granted a warrant . In officiating on the present occasion to give effect to the Grand Master ' s decree he ( Col . Shadwell IT . Clerke ) could not hel p mentioning

that in the medical profession the founders and members of the lodge had a magnificent field to work upon in the County of London , and it would be entirely their own fault if they did not , out of the rough materials to hand , build up an edifice of which some day they might well be proud . They had adopted a great name for the lodge , the name of one of the great patrons of their profession in ancient days , and they had chosen a most worthy and eminent brother of the present day to be their first Master . No doubt the future of the lodge would be a great one .

Bro . the Rev . R . J . SIMPSON , P . G . C , in delivering the oration , said : I have been asked by the Grand Secretary to deliver an oration on the nature and princip les of the Order . Now an oration has been defined by Johnson to be a grandiloquent speech . But a grandiloquent speech I cannot make , and as to the " nature and principles of Freemasonry , " they are so well

Consecration Of The Æsculapius Lodge, No. 2410.

known to the eminent and distinguished brethren here present , that I cannot presume to instruct them . I will , therefore , content myself , and you , sir , will be contented , if I confine myself to the circumstances in some measure of this particular occasion . You , Very Worshipful Sir , have alluded to the special nature of the lodge about to be consecrated . We all know that Masons include in their ranks men of every status in society , every creed , and every belief ; notwithstanding

that human nature , or Masonic human nature , seems in their case to incline to the doctrine of "natural selection , " and , therefore , one is not surprised to find men drawn together in Masonry whose professional or business interests naturally bind them to each other . Now , sir , we have to-day especial reason for finding some of the most distinguished Masons as well as of the most distinguished professional men as founders of this new lodge so appropriately termed ^ Esculapius . It has

been my good fortune in times past—for 40 years at least—to have had the pleasure of knowing many members of the medical profession , and I am bound to say that I have nowhere found men who come more entirely under the definition of charitable , kind-hearted men than the class to which I have alluded . The kindness , liberality , and self-sacrifice that I have seen among them are far beyond my powers of description , and have not dropped outside my

memory , and I feel assured , therefore , that if there is a class of men more than another who are calculated to adorn Masonry on that particular account alone , it is the members of the medical profession . Now , there is , sir , I believe a saying which is perhaps peculiarly appropriate to them , and which doubtless , if we accept the evidence recently produced by the first journal in the kingdom , would be considered just , I mean that

"doctors differ ; " and I hope while they come to these meetings they may never come without being able to speak out as true Englishmen their conscientious convictions . But of this I think we may be certain , when they once come within these hallowed walls all differences will cease , save and except on those Masonic questions on which they may hold a proper independent opinion , and if they differ they will agree to differ after the

manner of true Masons and English gentlemen . There is one great advantage which that profession has above all others , and that is a great distinctionnamely , that in the case of medical men profession is almost invariably associated by practice . There are other circumstances which doubtless justify us in being pleased to have among our Order those who adorn this profession and which will occur to all the brethren . Our lodges should be to some extent homes in which

not only those differences to which I have alluded should cease , but where we may for a few moments caught from troubled time , find unanimity and peace , ' nay , more , where secluded from the madding crowd we may seek repose , may meet together in social happiness , and be taught those glorious lessons of peace and goodwill to men and love to God which should ever be the distinguishing characteristic of Freemasons . The volume of the Sacred

Law , which as you know is the corner-stone of our venerable fabric , sets forth the Great Architect in three principal aspects , which I think it would be well for us to bear in mind , especially in a day when we find great doubts thrown on such subjects . The three aspects in which He is presented to us in the Sacred Law are , first , as the Creator , the Originator , the Prime Architect ; secondly , as the Grand Geometrician , the great administrator that lays lines and makes plans on

which the Universe is to be worked , subject only to His fiat and to being ordered by His continual governance ; and , thirdly , He is presented to us as the Father of Spirits , the all-seeing God , the Author and Giver of all good things , the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him , and the onl y hope of happiness beyond the grave . Our medical and surgical brethren are perhaps the best fitted men in the world to appreciate these great truths , and are perhaps more competent to follow

the chain of causation than any other body of men in the world , for no men understand the inductive process so well as they ; none are so well able to trace and form an ideal of The First Great Cause which underlies everything ; and I venture to think that no men understand more thoroughly the great lines and the great problems which are to be worked out in that borderland which lies between spirit and matter . These are yet to be solved . If there be men whose study and whose

natural powers more than others will be able to fathom those mysteries , it will be men of the medical profession . There is just one other idea I should like to throw out—viz ., that amidst all the new discoveries of our time , whether in the past or in the future , I believe that none will be found really antagonistic to the progress of true religion ; nay , that on the contrary , they will unite in the grand song of the sweet Psalmist of Israel , the father of our Grand Master Solomon , when

he said : " All Thy works praise Thee , O Lord , and Thy saints give thanks unto Thee ; they tell of Thy power , that Thy greatness and the mightiness of Thy kingdom might be known unto men . " But though the science of life is magnificent , the art of living is greater and more beautiful far , and this is strongly reflected in our system of Freemasonry , for Freemasonry points , as you know , to the highest moral and religious truths ; it impresses on us obedience to the laws , and loyalty

to the Sovereign ; it inculcates upon us the principles of true Charity , to suffer long and be kind , to be forgiving , to show brotherly love to all men , especially our brethren in Masonry . It also indicates the practical application of that Charity which makes us feel for the widow , the fatherless , and the aged , and it sets before us those virtues which will not only preserve the mens sana in cor pore sano , but that will lead us to that Grand Lodge above where the divisions of time shall

cease , and also where such glories shall burst upon the view that the redeemed sons of Adam shall exclaim with the Queen of Sheba when she saw the glory of Solomon , but with far more reason than she , " The half was not told me . " May this lodge , distinguished by men of eminence and culture , endowed with moral , social , and intellectual powers unsurpassed , have a long , a prosperous , and successful career ; may they hold fast those master truths which I have feebly

endeavoured to sketch , together with such other Masonic truths as are summed up in those glorious precepts which have been heralded b y the voice of 18 centuries , andare as significant to-day as when they came fresh from the pen of the great pupil of Gamaliel , " Honour all men , love the brotherhood , fear God , honour the King . "

The ceremony was then proceeded with and completed , and Bro . Joseph Brindicy James was installed as W . M . b y Bro . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke . The following brethren then received the lodge collars : Bros . Lennox Browne , F . R . C . S ., P . M ., P . P . S . G . W . Essex , Vice-President of the Board of General Purposes , acting I . P . M . ; F . Ernest Pocock , M . D ., P . M ., ( Member of the Board of General Purposes ) , S . W . ; Deputy

Inspector-General Belgravc Ninnis , R . N ., M . D ' ., P . M ., P . D . G . D . Malta , J . W . ; G . Danford Thomas , M . D . ( Coroner for West Middlesex ) , Treas . ; Thos . Dutton , M . D ., P . M ., Sec ; Joseph Pickett , M . D ., S . D . ; G . Crawford Thomson , M . B ., J . O . ; Frank Oldfield , M . D ., D . C ; W . Anthony Nutt , L . S . A ., I . G . ; H . Maunton Davies , M . R . C . S ., P . M . 157 S , P . P . J . G . W . Monmouth , and J . Henry Frye , M . R . C . S ., Stwds . ; F . Ezard , M . B ., Org . ; and Ellis , Tyler .

Votes of thanks were passed to the Consecrating Master and his assistants , and the honorary membershi p of the lodge was conferred on them . The lodge was closed after formal business , and the brethren adjourned to a charming banquet . The usual toasts followed .

In giving the toast of " The Queen and the Craft , " the WORSHIPFUL MASTER said : The Queen , God ~ bless her , is well-known to you all as a great upholder of our ancient Institutions , no less than as a striking examp le of womanly goodness , combined with Imperial greatness . As to the Craft , if brethren would all try and follow its tenets in some small measure , they