Centenary Celebration Of The Amity Lodge, No. 283.

them , and he was quite sure that the lodge had been raised to its present pinnacle of greatness , mainly through the energy which he and his other brethren had shown . He was sure he was but reiterating the wish of all Masons present in expressing the hope that the W . M . and officers might have a prosperous year before them , and that those who followed them might imitate their example .

Bro . SPENCER responded . He said the lodge was beginning another ioo years , and he hoped that man ) ' of them might be spared to meet again at another centenary celebration . Bro . DIXFIELD proposed "Success to the Centenary . " He said he thanked them for the honour of being present on the occasion of that interesting ceremony , interesting not only by reason of the special circumstances

of the occasion , but also on account of the presence of the ladies ; that was an innovation so pleasing , so sensible , and so charming , that he should think it must commend itself to all present , and he was sure that one of the duties that a visiting Mason had was to carry away notions of that kind and try to imitate them . There were occasions when they lingered awhile , and looked back on the past with all its ups and clowns , and then to the unknown

future which T . G . A . O . 'l . U . most kindly hid from their view . The } ' might enumerate occasions when a man and his wife , having journeyed together in companionship through life , invited their friends to celebrate their silver or their golden wedding " , and those were occasions of legitimate congratulation . No less interesting than the occasions of those birthdays , or silver or golden weddings , was the commemoration of that centenary , and he

considered it a great honour to meet them as a visitor , and to propose that toast of congratulation to their ancient lodge . It had had its vicissitudes , its ' lights and shadows , its ups and downs . He saw as he came into another part of the room the portraits of the worthy Masons who had preceded the W . M . in his office . It was owing to the efforts of those brethren that the lodge had succeeded in the past , and he was sure that whatever they found

worthy of imitation that they would carry on the work of their lodge to the end of time . The principles of Masonry were worthy of all their regard , love , and loyalty , and therefore he had great pleasure in proposing the congratulations of the brethren of the Amity Lodge on the occasion of its centenary . - "<' ¦ The toast was heartily drunk .

- ; - Bro . SUTCLIFFE , Sec , responded as follows : W . M ., officers , and brethren , I suppose you will consider I ought to give you some sort of an outline of the existence of this lodge of ours . I will do it in as few words as I possibly can . The brethren of whom we arc this day the representatives got a grant in June , 1791 , from the Grand Master , H . R . H . the Duke of Sussex , Grand Master of the Order in London , for the Provincial Grand Master of

Lancashire to issue a warrant for our lodge , to be held at the Swan Inn , Rochdale . This warrant was issued on the 14 th June , 1791 , by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , John Allen . It may be interesting to the brethren to know that there were two Grand Lodges in England at that lime —one under the . Duke of Athol , called the York or Ancient Masons ; the other under the Duke of Sussex , from whom we hailcalled ' by the

, York Masons Modern Masons . As to the title Modern or Ancient , I am not able to give you positive information , but I am glad to say the two Grand Lodges were re-united in December , 1813 , under the Duke of Sussex , as the United Grand Lodge of England . Our Amity Lodge , in my opinion , was formed and held b y Scotchmen , who were so plentiful in Rochdale and this district as their title was R . W . M . until the

removal of the lodge to the New Inn , Haslingdcn , on Thursday , 13 th June , 1 S 16 , since which time the title has been as at present . The lodge met at the New Inn , Haslingdcn , until February , ISKJ , when it was removed to a private room . There is nothing in the minutes to say where this private room was , but tradition says it was held in the top room of the house now occupied by Miss Fielding , called Ivy House , High-street , and was removed

from thence to the Bull ' s Head Hotel , Church-street , where I may say now we met until February , 1873 , our first meeting in the Swan Hotel , Haslingdcn , being 13 th March , 1873 , where , as you all know , we were so .. hospitably entertained by our late Bro . Thompson Yates . It was resolved we should remove to the Grey Marc Hotel , Regent-street , where we at present arc so comfortably settled , under Mrs . Yates , our late brother ' s widow .

the toast of "The Ladies" was next drunk , on the proposal of Bro . TAYLOR , and was responded to by Bro . HINDLE . Bro . SUTCLIFFE proposed " The Masonic Charities . " He said that at the third meeting the lodge held , that was in 1797 , one of the brethren proposed that we must really do something towards Masonic Charities . They had never been a large lodge , never more than 36 membersand sometimes

, they had got down to 18 , but they always called themselves a lodge of 30 , and he thought when their record was looked over that it would be found they had done pretty well towards all Charities , both the old men , the old women , the boys and the girls , and that they stood as well as any lodge in their province . That was what they might call " swaggering , " but what he wanted them to do was to help the lodge to which they individually belonged

with something , no matter how little it mi ght be . Every time they had anything to spare , he asked them to give it to the Masonic Charities , for they were worked throughout England for less money than any other Charities , and when they found that most of the money went to the people who ought to have it , the Charities were worthy of their support . The toast was heartily drunk .

Bro . HOWARTH , the oldest Mason in Haslingdcn , proposed " The Hostess . " He said he had frequentl y had occasion , years ago , to do the same thing , and he mi ght say , as he had repeatedly said , that they were very glad to go there , and at all times to partake of the bountiful repast which Mrs . V ates set before them . He thought that day she had almost exceeded herself in placing what she had done on the tables , and all he could say beyond that was that he hoped she mi ght have the pleasure for years to come of repeating it .

I he toast was heartily drunk , and responded to by Mr . HAMER , Mrs . Yates ' s son-in-law . He said on her behalf it gave him much pleasure to rise and tender to them her thanks for having so cordially drunk her health . It came about very agreeably in asking Bro . iiuwaiui 10

propose tnat toast , inasmuch as he was the oldest Mason in Haslingdcn , because he believed Mrs . Yates was the oldest hostess ; and he was sure that , so far as she was concerned , if she had satisfied them , which , he was sure it had been her desire to do , she would be truly thankful ; and on her behalf he begged to tender them her sincere thanks .

Bro . NUTTALL gave as the last the T yler ' s toast , which was that he wished all poor and distressed Masons , whether on land or at sea , speedy relief , and a safe return home if they desired it .

Centenary Celebration Of The Amity Lodge, No. 283.

This being acknowledged , brought the proceedings at the banquet to a close . The social part of the evening , including dancing and singing , then commenced ; and subsequently , during a short interval , presentations were made , of gold jewels in cases , to Bros . Joseph Sutcliffe , Secretary , and W . H ,

Shaw , Treasurer , the latter in his absence . The inscription on the former was— "Presented to Bro . Joseph Sutcliffe , P . M ., P . G . Superintendent of Works , for 21 years Secretary ; " and on the other— " Presented to Bro . W . H . Shaw , P . M ., for 21 years Treasurer . " Dancing was kept up to a late hour . '

Consecration Of The Plume Chapter, No. 1024.

CONSECRATION OF THE PLUME CHAPTER , No . 1024 .

For some years the Freemasons of Maldon who have proceeded to the Royal Arch Degree , have been compelled to travel to Colchester to attend a chapter , but being desirous of forming a chapter in their own town they petitioned the Supreme Grand Chapter , and being supported by a recommendation from the Grand Superintendent of the province , Comp , F . A . Philbrick , Q . C ., G . R ., their prayer was granted , and a charter issued , empowering nine companions , to form the Plume Chapter , to meet at the Masonic Hall , Maldon .

On Thursday , the 2 nd inst ., the Grand Superintendent , attended by several of the Provincial Grand Officers , visited Maldon for the purpose of consecrating the chapter . The Grand Superintendent reached Maldon by rail at four o ' clock , and

was met at the station by Comp . Barritt , Z . elect of the new chapter , and conducted to the Masonic Hall , when the proceedings at once commenced ; the Grand Superintendent being assisted by the following officers : Comps . Richard Clowes , P . Z . 51 , P . G . H ., as II . ; " Alfred Welch , P . Z . 51 , P . P . G . J ., as J . ; Thos . ] . Railing , P . Z . 51 , P . G . S . E ., as S . E . ; Albert Lucking , P . G . D . C , as D . C . ; and J . P . Lewin , P . Z . 276 , P . P . G . S . N ., as N .

The GRAND SUPERINTENDENT , in his address to the companions , said the ) ' were there to assist in a ceremony which must be of great interest to all R . A . Masons , for the consecration of a chapter was not of everyday occurrence . No doubt the place in which they were assembled had suggested to the founders the name of their chapter—the name of Plume recalled a benefactor to the town of Maldon , whose memory was cherished , and deservedly

so , by the inhabitants . He commended the zeal of the founders in having travelled to Colchester from time to time for the practice of R . A . Masonry , and congratulated them upon the formation of a chapter in their midst , which he felt sure would be a source of strength to the province . It was , he thought , a happy augury that this chapter was the ninth in the province , the number nine being of special interest to all R . A . Masons .

An oration on " The Nature and Principles of the Institution" was delivered by the acting ] ., Comp . ALFRED WELCH , P . Z . 51 , P . P . G . J ., who after remarking upon the comparative rarity of , and consequent especial interest in , an occasion of this kind ,

said—It is well that at these times we should call to mind the grand purposes for which Masonry was originally founded , and the sublime precepts inculcated throughout its entire teaching . As you are aware , Masonry does not profess to be' a religion , but it is most certainly an excellent handmaid to religion , and is fitly described as a peculiar system of morality , veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols . It is founded upon the purest principles of piety and virtue . No Masonic function is ever engaged in

without first invoking the assistance and blessing of the Most High , and its entire teaching is in strict accordance with the divine precepts laid down for our guidance in the Volume of the Sacred Law , and by which our Masonic obligations enjoin us to regulate our lives and actions . The symbolisms of Masonry , great in -Jtheir number and varied in their kind , have all their various uses and distinctive lessons , and furnish a most interesting study to those who derive a pleasure in the pursuit and acquisition of knowledge .

Many distinguished writers are of opinion that long before the introduction of written language ideas were expressed in visible form through the medium of symbolisms ; that allegorical representations of natural objects was a thoroughly understood science , by the application of which it has been found possible to decipher the pictorial representations engraven on ancient monuments , and to read the history of nations whose records had been buried in the grave of remote antiquity ,

and'whose very existence had been forgotten . The sacred volume itself abounds with symbolic teaching , the key to the knowledge of which furnishes in many instances the only true solution of the hidden meaning contained therein , and affords a potent weapon of defence against the assaults of the scientific scepticism of the age . Hie Jewish nation , from whom we derive much of our Masonic lore , and through whom many of our traditions have been transmitted , were eminently a people who were

instructed through the science of symbolism and allegory . The first Temple ( which stands in its relation to Craft Masonry , as the second Temple does to that of the Royal Arch ) was the outward and visible expression of the teaching I have described . I need not detail to an assembly so instructed as this the various lessons we are taught in the plan and structure of that wonderful edifice ; how the principles of order were inculcated in the workmen engaged in its construction , and how , in accordance with the

orderly methods which our traditions inform us were then observed , we have our various Degrees of Entered Apprentices , Fellow Crafts , and Master Masons , each with its special functions and usages , and all bound by honourable obligations of fraternal unity and loyal obedience . The Jews , who were the builders and custodians of that wonderful Temple , were a chosen and eminently representative people , whose entire history , & s recorded in the Sacred Writingsabound with lessons for our instruction and

, guidance . The various works undertaken by them which furnish the text and groundwork of Masonic teaching , and which were executed in accordance with the dictates of the Most High , not only for the generation then existing , but as lessons for our example upon whom " the ends of the world have come . " Leaving the traditions and lessons of the first Temple which have from remote times constituted the its

basis of teaching in Craft Masonry , we find the institution of the Royal Arch derives ritual and symbolic representations from that of the Second Temple , which , after the expiration of 70 years of captivity foretold by the prophet Jeremiah , was restored unuei Zerubbabel , the Prince of the People , whose history is so intimately blended with the rites and ceremonies of this exalted Degree . The constitution of this chapter in W " we are now assembled , both as regards its forms and ornaments , is in strict accordanc with Masonic plan , and has for its object the inculcation of lessons of the hig hest kind , a _

we are taught in various lectures which are given from time to time . " . scarcely necessary for me to refer to matters with which you are all P . ft familiar . You know that in every minute detail of our ceremonies , in the Degrees of Masonry , in every object of use or ornament , is associated an idea rn sacred by the source from which it originally came . It is well that at the consecrat

of a chapter from which the light of Masonry is to emanate we shouldbe reminded great purpose and end of all our teaching , which is not merely the improvement ° intellectual faculties , nor even the exercise of those truly Masonic virtues—Benevol and Charity—but that , seeing as we may do in every object of nature some record 0 ^ Divine mind , we may find " Sermons in stones and books in the running brooks . ^ sball nnr nprppnlinns Viprnmp pnlarcrprl and will , rp »/ prpnf mtnrtc «/ p mav llODe tO Uti

juster and higher conception of the great Author of all , the Eternal Kuler 0 Universe , the elemental life , the primordial source of all its principles , the very sp ^ » and fountain of all its virtues . May this chapter ever retain and jealously S ; ts high privilege of this teaching . May the blessing of the Most Hig h rest "P ° j „ members , and may the traditions and beautiful ritual of our Order be handed do unsullied purity to those who will fill our places when time with us shall be no more .