Consecration Of The Earl Of Carnarvon Lodge, No. 1642.

the loyal , the peaceful character of Freemasonry , and so it would " be but for one remarkable fact , the extreme violence with which one religious body , the Roman Catholic Church ( though others have been equally foolish ) has thought Tight- of late to attack in every way , and in every form , our harmless , inoffensive , peaceable , loyal brotherhood . I say nothing here of pontifical

allocutions and episcopal addresses , we can afford to disregard them . I do not even now allude to excommunications and anathemas , which are too childish and harmless to be animadverted upon , but I think it right to call attention to an address delivered in a Roman Catholic Church at Hastings , within the last Month , by a certain Father Foy , in which he has thought well to make , and make in

a church , on the steps of the altar , a most mendacious statement , and to bring most serious charges against Freemasonry . First of all , he says that Lord Ripon resigned his Grand Mastership of English Freemasonry because he was alarmed at the political tendencies of this secret Order everywhere . ( Loud laughter . ) You , Sir , who know even better than I do that such a statement is distinctly untrue ,

and a cruel calumny on our late distinguished head Lord Ripon himself , than whom I will say now , when still happily amongst us , no truer man , and no more constitutional ruler ever presided over our excellent Order . This is the statement , and what do you think is the charge ? That we are a socialistic , revolutionary , infidel body , whose sole object is to create revolution everywhere , and wlio ,

when we meet together indulgt in orgies tou disgraceful to narrate . ( Much laughter and cheers . ) And this was declared , as I said before , in a Church , wirhin the last momh , st Hastings , and is said to have made a great impression on the hearers of this imaginative individual . It is almost incredible , were it riot printed in a respectable paper " The Hastings Ob-ervcr , "

and as you will see , in ( he " Freemason" of next week , Father Foy defends his veracious statement . 1 may add that Father Foy ' s two addresses will appear " in extenso " for the information of the brethren in the " Masonic Magazine" for December and January , as I think it is most advisable for us all to know accurately what friends and foes a'ikc say of us .

Father Foy , so far from withdrawing from his statements , seeks to justify them in a letter he has subsequently written to the same newspaper . Well , you may s ? y , we can afford to laugh at such statements j so no doubt we can ; out long experience in lite has told me that nut ' iing is so potent as calumny when judiciously spread and when deliberately persisted in . There is no reason that I

can see , moreover , why our useful and philanthropic sodality should he made , either the subject of untruthful assertion , or the object e » f shameful criticisms , and therefore 1 think it well to remind you all to-day , and the members of this lodge especially , what Freemasonry is , what it teaches , and what it does . It is a friendly brotherhood animated by the most gracious sentiments , and

proclaiming the grandest of all morality , based , and based alone , on Coil ' s Word , ever open in onr lodges . It inculcates every patriotic duty and every social virtue . Its motto is •' Loyalty and Charity , " its scope and aim universal beneficence and brotherhood . It maintains , with unfailing clearness , liberty of thought and belief , toleration and consideration for all . It avows that it is in favour

of light and truth , the advance of education and science , the general I ' cvelopemcntofjthearts that constitute the safety ( if true national life and the peaceful progress of the ci . ilization of mankind . But it bases all its hopes and views , and declarations on obedience to the laws of the land which Freemasons belong to by birth , or reside in for a time , and it seeks on all occasions to advocate the

domestic and moral virtues in their ennobling , endunngand undying responsibilities . We are to be good Masons , but we are also to be good men , arid no true Freemason will ever forget that grand and solemn truth of personal accountability which ever encircles us , that we have all to stand one day before God , the Judge of all , and to listen to our own eternal sentence whether for good or

evil eternally from Him who sits on the Great White Throne , and before Whose glorious presence the canh and heavens will flee away . But Freemasonry docs not stop here . No . To its public teachings and its outward organisation , it adds above all the practice of true benevolence . By its noble charities Freemasonry essays to prove to all around that its professions are real , and that

its practice squares with its theory . It educates the orphan sons and daughters of our brethren , it cares for the aged and the suffering brother ; it sympathizes with and aids the widow ; and not only this , but by a wise and careful system of benevolent grants it relieves nionthly all those who can make a fair claim on its brotherly beneficence . And I say that Fre-enrasonry is in itself the

best reply to its traduccrs and enemies , and that our best answer to all enquirers as to its use and good , is " Si t ; as r : s circumsp ice ; " listen to its words of sympathy , lu ti . ilu it deeds of good , and believe that that association . ; ; . ;¦ .- ¦ : most worthy alike of your admiration and support , wine .. ; ; inculcates and so practices the goodly and blessed ultii ¦ -: — of chaiity and tolerationkindness and brotherly love .

, Masonic poet has truly said : " Its grand foundation nobly is designed To warm the soul and elevate the mind . It soothes the troubled heart amid distress , And paints soft pity in her native dress . We hail sweet concord in her highest flight , We censure wrong , and vindicate the right ,

We oft describe fair virtue ' s peaceful seat , And trace fair friendship to its lone retreat We point the way to honour and to truth , And curb the passions of fantastic youth . Jn mystic characters we represent Masonic laws and human hearts cement . Ihe humblest object of sweet charity We glad welcome and teach humanity ; No stimulant to action is required ,

Consecration Of The Earl Of Carnarvon Lodge, No. 1642.

Each Mason ' s heart lo charity is fired . The widows' tears arc dried , we thus impart The gi * and resources of ou > - Royal Art . In schools well suited to the infant mind , The morals guided and the thoughts refined . Our charity and love united stand , To bless the needy with a liberal hand ,

We labour truly to instruct our youth , In paths of duty , honesty , and truth . How grand is Masonry in its rich display , On some high festive interesting day , In solemn form within clue Compass move , The Bible , and the Square our minds to prove , With knowledge to the worthy Mason given ,

He builds on trust and soars towards a heaven , The mind unfettered and the conscience free , Point to that blissful scene of puiity . By faith's uplifting power we look on high , Part wilh the world , nor heave a transient sigh , Hope ' s golden wing resistless paves the way , And lifts the soul to everlasting day .

Brethren , my imperfect task is done , and I end it with sincere thanks , V . W . Sir and brethren all , for the patient audience you have favoured me with , and with lie-arty good wishes for the future prosperity and success of the liarl of Carnarvon Lodge . ( Cheering . ) The ceremony of consecration was then proceeded with , the musical portions being beautifully rendered by Bro . F .

Delevanti , Bro . Tulbot Chcvei , and others , and the Rev . P . M . Holdeu delivering the Scripture portions and invocations . When the lodge had been formally consecrated and constituted , Bro . Hervey instilled Bro . W . J . Murlis as first W . M ., and the following brethren were invested as officers-. —Bros . Geo . Penn . S . W . ; S . H . Parkhouse , J . W . ; the Rev . Chas , Darby Reade , Chan . ; W . Steuli .-ns , Treas .:

J . Pushnian , Sec ; William Gordon , M . P ., S . D . ; F . Clench , J . D . ; Lander , l . G . ; S . Smout , D . C ; F . Delevanti , Org . ; S . Smout , jun ., W . S . ; and T . Schofield , Tyler . Votes of thanks were passed to Bros . Hervey , the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , Joseph Smith , John Boyd , the Rev . P . M . Hidden , and James Terry for consecrating the lodere ,

and honorary membership of the lodge was unanimously conferred on them . The lodge was then closed , and the W . M . read ihe following letter , which In- had received from the scrret . iry of the Pro Grand Master , after whom Ihe lodge had been named : — COI- ' INIAL Orrit-E , 4 th Nov . 1876 .

Sin , —Lord Carnarvon regrets very much that your letter of the 30 th Oct . should have remained so long unanswered , and he wishes me to add the expression of his regret at being unable to be present at the con sccration of lhc Earl of Carnarvon Lodge , No . 1 ( 1 42 , which his engagements render quite impossible . His lordship wishes me , however , lo say that he readily consents to bis coat of armsjieing used for the new lolge .

1 am , iiir , your obedient seiv .-mt , ( Signed ) Am lieu A . PEARSON . W . J . Murlis , Esq . The brethren afterwards adjourned to a sumptuous banquet , which was served by Mr . Linscotl , proprietor of the hall , and the catering gave uutningled satisfaction to the brethren present , the dinner and the attendance equally meriting praise-.

Ihe banqueting hall was profusely decorated with choice plants and ( lowers , which were most aitistically arranged , the coup d'ecil giving complete evidence of good taste and judgment in floriculture . After the banquet the W . M . proceeded to propose the toasts . After the toasts of " The ttueeu and the Craft , " and "The Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., " had been duly

honoured , the W . M . gave " The Pro Grand Master , lhc Earl of Camaivon , " and hoped , though his lordship had not been present at the consecration of the lodge named after him , that the day would come when they would have the pleasure of his couv- ' -y . The Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , P . G . C ., responded to the toast of "The Dey . G . M ., Lord , Skelmersdale , and the rest

of the Grand Officer .-, " and in doing so s . ' i : Though I have addressed my brethren a great man ; uiiie <; during my Masonic career , 1 must confis

than linn :-, in hands which 1 feel certain woul i hnvcduiic more justice to the toast tnan I am able to do . 1 sec on my right Bro . Locock Webb , one cf Her Majesty ' s counsel learned in the law , and a most distinguisb-rt Past Grand Officer , .. i i > . liei : I look on my felt I see our Ilro . Joseph Smith , ' .. > ' ! pillar of the Masonic Order , who is always rc . i . v \< : si > t i : s on every occasion , and to give ¦

i li- ol ; .-ii : l-. u > s ot his smiles and genial presence to •¦ r win ' . ; . 1 -hould haveb ' - 'en very glad , above 'iii- '—d ! , ; -.-. ; ! Secretary had taken upon ' u hive cast upon me of responding to in ¦ - ' ¦ 1 have been called upon I must do my duty ; . i .:-n ,, and respond , at the same time comm .- ¦ : ¦ ¦ ¦ . few remarks I have to mike to your

kii . dly i . uiiaiieiatiou . I am not a young Mason—I was made in 1 S 42 ; but I can honestly say that 1 hove .. ever repented of the step I took when I became one c . " the fraternity . I can assure you that the longer I It .-vc been a Mason , the more have I seen the value and importance of Freemasonry ; and I have looked

upon it from the time 1 entered it until to-day as one of the greatest blessings given to us in the good Providence of God . It unites men of the most opposite views and sections , of all religions and all nationalities j at the same time that it separates us from the jarring world without , and binds us together in one phalanx of brotherly union , concord , and love , ready to assist , support , and sympathise with one

Consecration Of The Earl Of Carnarvon Lodge, No. 1642.

another . Many of us standing here to-day have alreaely grey hairs , for we may be said Masonically to have borne the burden and heat of the day ; but none of us have ever regretted the time we have given or the labours we have offered to that old Order of ours , which commends itself to every affection and sentiment of human nature . When we contemplate the world without , and see the various

divisions which the human family is subject to , surely it is a happy thing to remember that there is one spot where we may all meet together , whatever our politics or our religion may be . where we may all enjoy the blessings of fraternal unity and concord , and work for the good of all , the happiness of our fellow creatures , and the glory of our Great Creator . I beg to say to you , in conclusionthat as a day

, will come when our place will know us no more , I trust sincerely that the younger Masons among us will seek to serve the Craft as we have , honestly , if imperfectly , done , and will still rall y round its famous banner , and endeavour to advance not only the interests of our good old Order , but the welfare of our common brotherhood , and the lasting happiness of mankind . ( Great cheering . )

The W . M . proposed the toast of the evening , " The Consecrating Officer , Bro . John Hervey . " He had briefly expressed his thanks to Bro . Ilervey previously for consecrating the lodge . He hoped Bro . Hervey might live for many years to come among them . He was a near neighbour , and though his official duties were heavy he trusted that he would come and see how they were getting on .

He would always find a hearty welcome . There were only two persons he had wished to consecrate the lodge , the Earl of Carnarvon or Bro . Hervey . He did not care which , and his wish had been gratified ; Bro . Hervey having performed the ceremony . Bro . Hervey thanked the W . M . very much for his kind meed of approbation . It was very gratifying to him that

the consecration had gone off so well . If he were to speak for a long time he could not do more than express his gratitude for the compliment the W . M . and brethren had paid him . He wished success to the lodge , and he was pleased to see Bro . Murlis again in the chair of a lodge which he ( Bro . Hervey ) had consecrated . Bro . W . Stephens proposed "The W . M ., " and the

W . M . having replied , proposed a special toast in honour of Bro . Moore , Deputy District Grand Master of the Argentine Republic . Bro . Moore returned thanks . Linking his name with a toast greatly enhanced the pleasures of the evening . He fully appreciated the honour paid to the Argentine Republic , which he represented on that occasionand himself .

, The brethren of the Republic would be most peculiarly interested in the details cf the ceremony he had been permitted to witness , and when he returned thither he should inform the brethren of what he had seen . He must despair of ever attaining to one tithe of the efficiency and readiness and dignity to which Uro . Hervey had attained , as well as the rev . brethren who had assisted him . Since he

had been m England he had had the pleasure of visiting several lodges , and had been led to form an opinion , ihat Masons who lived at home at ease knew nothing of the greatest pleasures that Masonry afforded ; they had not learned to appreciate thoroughly the value of the Alasonic passport which was contained in the Grand Lodge certificates , or properly understand the pleasure a Mason like

himself felt in returning to his native country , and being received in lodges , the members of which were entire strangers to him . Abroad the pleasure was fully appreciated of receiving a brother in a ' forcign country , and within the sacred portals of those foreign lodges extending to him the right hand of fellowship . After thanking the brethren for the toast and his reception , Bro . Moore

informed the brethren that if they should ever visit the Argentine Republic they would find there a welcome extended to them if possible a hundred fold that dispensed to him that evening . ( Cheers . ) Bro . Savage , P . M . Hyde Park Lodge , returned thanks for "The Visitors , " and was followed by Bros . Locock Webb , Q . C ., and Jordan .

Uro . James Terry replied for " The Charities , " and delivered an exhaustive account of what all the Masonic fnstitutions had hitherto accomplished . Bro . Stephens , Treasurer , replying for "The Officers , " said that , ( , ' 60 had already been promised for the Stewards ' List of this lodge for the next festival of the Benevolent

Institution . He wanted £ 300 . ThcS . W . and J . W . also replied , and Bro . W . Gordon , M . P ., responded for "The Junior Officers , " and was followed by each of these brethren in turn . The proceedings were then brought to a clos .-, and the brethren separated .

Obituary.

Obituary .

FUNERAL OF THE LATE REV . K . 1 . LOCK WOOD

D . P . G . M . SUFFOLK . On Wednesday , 25 th inst ., amid general expressions of sorrow and regret , the remains of the esteemed Rector of Belstcad were consigned to the tomb . The deceased clergyman was buried by the side of his late wife , in a gravc ^ situated at the end of the chancel of Belstead Church . The burial service was impressively performed

by Rev . H . J . Hasted , Hector of Spruughlon , arrd the Hon . and Rev . F . D . Gray , Rector of Copdock . Among the clergy present were Revs . J . R . Turnock and C . A , Raymond , St . Mary-le-Tower , Ipswich ; f . H . Henderson , St . Mary Stoke ; J . Tweed , Capel St . Mary ; and W . Andrews . The " British Union " Lodge ( of which

deceased was a member and D . P . G . M . for Suffolk ) was represented by Bro . W . Boby , P . M ., Bro . W . Spalding , P . M ., Bro . Casley , and Bro . Rev . G . Godwin ( Capel ) . Besides these the chief mourners comprised the daughters of deceased and relatives , including Mrs . J . Tweed and Mrs . Andrews . Although the funeral was regarded as a private one , there was also a large number of parishion » rs ,