Consecration Of The New Kenlis Lodge At Egremont.

CONSECRATION OF THE NEW KENLIS LODGE AT EGREMONT .

Tuesday week was another red-letter day in the annals of Freemasonry in West Cumberland , that day having been appointed for the consecration of a new Lodge at Egremont , which , in honour of Lord Keniis , of Underley-hall , the Right Worshipful Grand Master of the Province , has been constituted under the name and title of " The Keniis Lodge , "

No . 1267 . The new lodge has adopted for its " local habitation " the house of Bro . Sand with , the "Cat" Inn , Egremont , at which place the ceremony of consecration , the installation of Worshipful Master , & c , took place on the day above named . Lord Keniis was expected to have been present , but in his lordship ' s unavoidable absence , the Deputy

Provincial . Grand Master , Bro . Whitwell , M . P ., Kendal , presided , and officiated as consecrator . A goodly number of brethren from Whitehaven and other parts of the Western Division of the county , honoured the new lodge with their presence on the occasion , among others the following , viz ., Bros , the Rev . James Simpson , Prov . G . S . ; P .

Quinn , P . M ., 119 ; G . W . Kenworthy , P . M ., 11 . 9 ; C . Morton , P . M ., 872 ; J . McKelvie , P . M ., 119 ; H . Cook , P . M ., 119 ; E . G . Hughes , P . M ., 872 ; J . Spittal , W . M ., 872 ; Wm . White , W . M ., 119 ; J . Robertson , W . M .-elect , 872 ; R . Foster , J . W ., 872 ; T . C . Windross , S . D ., 119 ; J . Briudle , J . D ., 872 ; the Rev . Herbert Puxley , 1002 , P . Prov . G . O ;

the Rev . W . Williams , Sec . 1002 , and on this occasion Consecration Chaplain ; Henry F . Faithful , P . Prov . G . W . ; G . Harker , 872 ; J . Rothery , 119 : T . Atkinson , 872 ; W . Curtis , 872 ; J . Morton , 872 ; Jos . Crisp , 97 ; John Bethwaite , 962 : N . Topping , 962 ; Weeks , 872 ; Rd . Robinson , 1002 ; W . Cowie , 119 ; J . W . Hunter , 962 ; Parker Glover

T . Mandle , 371 ; W . B . Reuwick , 119 ; J . Little , 119 ; W . B . Clarke , 119 ; John Sandwith , 119 ; John Welsh , 119 ; John Cooke , 175 ; George Fitzgerald , 872 . The Officers-elect of the "Keniis " Lodge present were Bros . C . Morton , W . M . ; John Edward Spencer Lawson , S . W . ; Edwanl Chapman , J . W . ; Jas . Muncaster , Secretary and Treasurer

Joseph Cook , S . D . ; and John Sandwith , I . G . On the arrival of the train from Whitehaven , & e ., the visiting brethren proceeded to the Cat Inn , where they were very warmly received by the Egremont brethren , and entertained with very bounteous refreshment , after which the whole of the brethren were summoned to the Lodge Room , where

the ceremony of consecration was proceeded with . Bro . Whitwell presided , and was assisted by the Rev . W . Williams as Chaplain , Bros . Richard Robinson , S . W . ; John Spittal , J . W .: Edward G . Hughes , I . G . ; and William White , Tyler . Bros . Cook , McKelvie , and Kenworthy , also took part in the ceremony . Bro . Lewthwaite , of Cockermouth ,

presided at the pianoforte , and Bros . Cook , Williams , Hughes , and Glover , gave their vocal services on the occasion . The usual anthem aud other music were very effectively rendered , and the ceremony was performed throughout iu a very imposing manner , especially the consecration of the new lodge with corn , wine , and oil , which part of

tho proceedings was conducted by Bros . Cook , KcKelvie , aud Kenworthy . One of the most pleasing features of the consecration was the delivery of a very admirable oration , by Bro . the Rev . W . Williams , who kindly consented to its publication , at the earnest solicitation of the brethren . It was as follows : —

The pioneer of civilization who visited a distant land provoked the curiosity of the natives by casting something on the ground . His visit was soon forgotton , but ere long his influence was felt . The seed which he planted sprang up , and the people who could not comprehend his conduct reaped the fruits of his benevolence . To-day we are somewhat

similarly engaged . Unknown to the outward world , we are here planting seed which , with the Divine blessing , will bear fruit in the social and moral wellbeing of this town and neighbourhood . With hearty good wishes we congratulate our local brethren ou the success of their plans , and the realization of their hopes . May the lodge now to be consecrated

ever be a sanctuary of Masonic virtue and a temple of Masonic truth . Set apart for sacred purposes , may . it ever retain its sacred character , and be a habitation for worthy men meeting together for good . The history of our order encourages us to hope for success , and forbidr us to be apprehensive of failure . Founded on strength , governed by

wisdom , and adorned by beauty , this lodge should become the home of love , the centre of virtuous influence . The principles ou which a lodge is established are no novelty . Masonry is not an experiment—it is a graud success . Soon after tho world ' s birthday its principles began a struggle which must

end in victory . Though selfishness has rejected them , though bigotry has condemned them , though intolerance has persecuted them , yet they have always triumphed , and shall gain a final victory over every foe . Tlie history of Freemasonry is not a revelation of its secrets but a record of its success .

Consecration Of The New Kenlis Lodge At Egremont.

Silently and unknown to the outer world it has poured oil and wine into the wounds of suffering humanity . Like the stream which flows from its secret mountain home , and glides noiselessly through the vale till lost in the verdure and beauty which it spreads , Masonry has stolen gently on the world ; it has its secret home , its secret channel , and virtue

adorns its course while blessings tell its history . Who can say how much distress it has relieved , how much misery it has mitigated ? If in every land hatred , selfishness , and bigotry are found , so in every age Freemasonry has endeavoured to check or to eradicate them . It has helped to hush the savage war-cry . It has shielded sufferers from the

sword of the crusader , as well as from the scimeter of the Mahometan . It holds out a flag of truce beneath which love and reason may take the place of passion and madness ; and differences become adjusted which unsettled might lead to war . It has ever summoned men from their minor differences to engage in a struggle for the welfare of mankind . Tt

is a happy arrangement by which political and religious differences never disturb the harmony of our lodges . The brethren meet for the good and welfare of Masonry ; and , as in the erection of the temple of old no discordant sound broke the silence in which the work progressed , so now the voice of prejudice or even of honest enthusiasm does not disturb the

harmony which reigns . But while Masons lay these offerings on the Altar of Love , they are not called on to sacrifice truth or immolate conscience . Every good Mason should " strive by the purity of his own conduct , to demonstrate the superior excellence of the faith which he may possess . " Some one has well said of Masonry " that its object is not to make our

faith indefinite or our hope vague ; but to widen our charity and to give it scope to expand in the exercise of a universal , an ungrudging , and a large-hearted benevolence . " Faith and Hope should not be separated from Charity . They are the immovable jewels of all good Masons . They have placed Masonry high in the esteem of men whose position enabled

them to form correct estimates of its influence on society . Monarchs , Statesmen , aud Divines baverecogniscd withapproval the loyalty and benevolence which belong to our Order . The late Earl of Derby thus defended Freemasonry from the attack which intolerance had made upon it ; " I have not the honour to belong to that society , but from all

I have ever heard , I believe that a more loyal or more peaceable , a more charitable , a more universally benevolent class of men does not exist on the face of the earth . " It is not possible to take a general view of our institution ou this occasion . The other duties of the day make brevity a necessity . And my short and very limited acquaintance with Craft

Masonry makes me painfully conscious of the imperfection which must attach to anything which I say . I will therefore very briefly speak of Freemasonry as an educational institution . Brethren have solved the educatioual question by becoming themselves educated . He wdio legitimately seeks to unravel the mysteries of Masonry does not long grope

in darkness . Masonic light chases away his ignorance , and reveals to him what the " cowan " can never comprehend . And if ho travels in the right direction , guided by the ancient landmarks , knowledge shall attend his footsteps , and discovery reward his industry . Masonry does not give a partial education . It addresses itself to every faculty of the mind

and seeks to train and develope them in their relative proportions . Truth veiled , but not shrouded , iu allegory delights the imagination , but as that seclusive faculty requires acorrcctive , truth also addresses the reason in the stern precepts of the sacred law . Nor is memory forgotten , for it is the Mason ' s storehouse in which are laid up treasuers which time nor

the " cowan shall ever steai . Caution guards this store-house , and , should it hear an alarm , calls fear and fidelity to seal the lips , that the tongue may not offend . The education which Masonry imparts is suited to every kindred , tribe , and tongue . The principles of Freemasonry are not the offspring of one nation , or of one ago . Thoy are not , therefore ,

fettered by the prejudices of any nation , nor the peculiarities of any ago . They teach us to blend in harmony the virtues of many nations , and to shun the vices which belong to all . The youngest brother can see preserved in our Order , the distinctive characteristics of the three nations which , more than any other , have influenced the world ' s history—the

Hebrews' reverence for religion , the Greeks living for a cultivated intellect , and the Roman mind finding its expression in government and law . Unencumbered by national peculiarities , Masonry has not been stayed in its progress by difficulties of languages or varieties of dialects . Masonic secrets are not locked up in a dialect , nor Masonic lessons in a tongue .

Masons of every nation can recognise a brother , and read a language which the stranger to Masonry can neither speak nor read . Being thus adapted to all countries , ithasits votaries in every clime . In the deep recesses of central Africa , as well as along the classic shores of the Mediterranean a Mason can discover brethren with whomhecan interchange thoughts , and from whom ho will receive kindness . Our venerable

Consecration Of The New Kenlis Lodge At Egremont.

institution does not divorce religion from education . It makes it a necessary part of it . He is imperfectly educated who is not educated for eternity . Brethren , Masonry reminds us that though the clods of the valley shall cover our mortal remains , our spirits shall live for ever . Every true Mason , therefore , is

a candidate for eternal happiness . It reminds us that , when this earthly house which we inhabit shall be dissolved , there is a Grand Lodge above , designed by T . G . A . O . T . U ., and prepared by Him as the home of his faithful children . We know that that lodge is strictly guarded . The unworthy shall never

enter it ; but none who rightly seek admittance shall knock in vain . We are reminded , too , that an omniscient eye ever rests upon us , that infallible wisdom rules above aud arouud us , aud that the tenderest love offers to shelter us beneath its wings . Our education is not purely speculative . We are taught

how to work as operative Masons . The tools of a Master Mason tell us that the Lord ' s work should not bo neglected . Brethren , T . G . A . O T . U . has designed a great work in which every Mason should engage . We cannot yet see , even on his tracing board , the whole of that grand design . It contains

many sections , and requires tlie whole of time for its completion . Our ancient brethren worked out the earliersections in their working days , and to each of us is given in his day that section for the execution of which ho is best qualified . It will be our wisdom to work out this grand design , to follow strictly the

tracings of this plau ; for when the noblest works devised by man shall have crumbled to decay , this building shall have its topstone laid on " with shoutings of grace . " Grace unto it . The ceremony of consecration havingbeen concluded that of installing the Worshipful Master of the new

lodge was proceeded with . Bro . Whitwell officiated as Installing Master , and Bro . Crowther Morton , the W . M . elect of 1267 , was presented by three Past Masters elected for that purpose , viz ., Bros . Cook , McKelvie , and Kenworthy . Having been properly inducted into tho chair , proclamation was

made by the Installing Master iu the usual form , after which the brethren saluted the W . M ., who then appointed and invested the several officers of the lodge already enumerated . At the conclusion of the installation ceremony , the lodge was closed in due form , and the brethren separated for a short time .

THE BANQUET . Oue o'clock was the hour appointed for dinner for the accommodation of brethren travelling by train , ¦ and at about that hour as many as could make it convenient to do so , proceeded to the Globe Assembly Rooms , where a first-class banquet was served in

the well-known superior style of the worthy hostess of the Globe Hotel , Mrs . Roberts . The dinner and the excellence of the ¦ serving were alike the theme ofuiiiveral commendation . The wines , too , were exceedingly good . Bro . C . Morton , W . M ., presided , and was supported on the rig ht and left by Bros . Whitwell , Cook , Puxley , Kenworthy , Faithful , and

Williams , the latter of whom officiated as chaplain . The vice-chair was occupied by Bro . Chapman , and Bro . Hughes performed theduties of croupier . Bros . Lewthwaite and Cooper presided at the pianoforte , and Bros . Cook , Glover , Hughes , and others sang several capital songs , glees , oic , iu the course of tho entertainment .

After the usual loyal toasts , The CHAIRMAN proposed the health of tbe M . W . G . M . the Earl of Zetland—a nobleman who had reigned over the Masonic Craft for the last twenty-six years—a fact which would sufficiently answer the question , should it be put , whether ho

had done so in an able manner ( cheers ) . The noble Earl had filled the chair of Grand Lodge in a way which had given satisfaction to every member of the Craft , and though he had now resigned the position of M . W . G . M ., it was to be hoped that he would be snared for many years to afford them the pleasure of

his presence among them from time to tune , and to assist them with his excellent counsels . ( Drank with Masonic honours ) . Bro . WHITWELL , D . P . G . M ., on rising to propose the next toast was received with loud applause . He said it was another of thosr toasts which came home

to the hearts of Masons when they were assembled on occasions like tile present ; and as the health of the M . W . G . M . had called forth feelings of loyalty and reverence , so also would the toast which he had now the honour to submit to their notice— "The

D . G . M Earl de Grey and Ripon and the rest of tho Officers of Grand Lodge" ( cheers ) . The EarldeGrey aud llipcm had always fulfilled the duties of his positiyn in the most satisfactory manner , and was highly and worthily esteemed by all who knew him . When the Earl of Zetland could not attend Grand Lodge , his Deputy was never found wanting to take Ids

pl . te ? , and the absence of tlio Muster was the only ground for feeling of regret at the cause of the Deputy appearing in his place ( cheers ) . An announcement had been made within the last few days which they must all have heard with great pain—the retirement of the M . W . G . M ., for he had sustained that position so nobly that no Government could