Consecration Of The Angloamerican Chapter, No. 2191.

we have to bring into existence . Some three years ago it was thought by many brethren of our own race hailing from the other side of the Atlantic , that they should have a home in London where they could meet each other on mutual ground , and a lodge was granted and brought into existence . So successful is that lodge that I understand it musters nearly ioo members , which is sufficient to show that it vvas advisable that there should be a chapter . That has been applied for and granted

in the same liberal spirit , and I am glad to be here to assist in bringing that chapter into existence , and I am sure it will take as high a place amongst chapters as the lodge does amongst lodges . I have always heard the G . S . E . warn members , and therefore , I think I ought perhaps to copy his example , against being in a hurry to have a large chapter , for quality is always better than quantity ; for it is

an easy thing to get a candidate into a lodge or chapter , but a most difficult thing to get rid of an objectionable member . You should make strict enquiries into every candidate ' s Masonic qualifications and character , and better lose one or two candidates than accept one who would upset the general harmony of the meetings . 1 will ask the D . C . to state the wishes of the companions and proceed vvith the consecration .

The D . C . read the petition and charter , the companions of the new chapter signifying their approval of the officers named therein to preside over them . Comp . Rev . R . J . SIMPSON , P . G . Chap ., acting Chap ., delivered an excellent oration , which was followed by the anthem , " Behold how good and joyful a thing it is , " and the ceremony was proceeded with , the chapter being dedicated and constituted in ancient form and vvith the customary solemnity .

lhe installation of Principals was next proceeded vvith , and the following companions were dul y installed into their respective chairs : Comps . Adolphus Clark , M . E . Z . ; J . J . Woolley , H . ; and Capt . H . C . Lambert , J . The other officers having been duly elected , were invested , viz . * . Comps . Major Lambert , P G . D . C , acting I . P . Z . ; J . B . Gumming , S . E . ; Dr . J . J . Wedgwood , S . N . ; E . Stimson , Treas . ; and Major F . W . Frigout , P . S .

On the motion of Comp . Major LAMBERT , seconded by Comp . BAKER , the Consecrating Officers and Comps . Consul-General J . C . New and Col . Shadwell H Clerke , G . S . E ., were unanimously elected honorary members . Comp . FRANK RICHARDSON , G . D . C , on behalf of those who assisted in the

ceremony , returned thanks for that mark of favour . It would afford them pleasure to have the opportunity of visiting the chapter and seeing how the work vvas done , and he was certain that in the hands of the companions it would be found in a satisfactory state . Comp . Consul-General J . C . NEW also returned thanks .

Three companions were proposed as joining members and six brethren for exaltation , and a Committee , consisting ofthe officers andthe I . P . Z ., was appointed to frame the by-laws . A hearty vote of thanks was accorded , and ordered to be entered on the minutes , to Comp . Major Lambert for providing the charter with his customary generosity . The chapter was closed , and a banquet was followed by the usual toasts .

" The Queen and R . A . Masonry " and "H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , Grand Z ., " were first cordially given and received . In giving "The Grand Officers , " the M . E . Z . said they had now come to the working Grand Officers of the Order . They had a few present that evening , and

he was sure they were grateful to them for their presence , and for assisting in the consecration of the chapter . He did not propose to detain them in expatiating upon their merits , for they knew he was not capable of making a speech . In proposing that toast , which was an important one , he should couple the name of Comp . R . W . M . Pope , who would respond .,

Comp . R . W . M . POPE , P . G . Chap ., said he desired , on behalf of the G . Officers , to return their most hearty and sincere thanks for the very kind words the M . E . Z had used in proposing the toast , and for the kind manner in which it had been received . There could be no more deli ghtful occasions to the hearts of the Grand Oflicers than to perform a dut y calculated to teach such excellent lessons as he trusted that chapter would do . He was certain the chapter over which the M . E . Z .

presided so well and worthily would rank amongst the first , and the greatest in this land of Great Britain . He did not like in any way to be personal , but yet would they allow him to say that to him , however unworth y , it was a special and singular pleasure to be present . He took great pleasure in attending the consecration of the Anglo-American Lodge and he might say that that lived in his memory as one of the best and most

illustrious ceremonies at which he had had the pleasure of being present . The honour of the purple of England had not then fallen upon his unworthy shoulders , but he vvas there as the W . M . of a lodge not entirely unconnected with America—the University Lodge at Oxford—between which and America there was a strong bond . Although not a Grand Officer then , through the kindness of Comp . Baker—whose

name vvas known so far and wide—he was asked to assist by saying grace . That might seem a small detail , but it did not appear so to him , and was written on his heart , and he trusted that in future ages—and he said it not only on behalf of his own University , but for the great body of Grand Officers—the bond of fraternity between English and American Freemasons mi ght ever abound . The few words he had spoken were spoken from the bottom of his heart .

Comp . BRACKSTONE BAKER , P . A . G . S ., in proposing " The President of the United States , " said it vvas extremely unjust to have selected him to propose such an important and essential toast to the well-being of the United States as that of the President . He had hoped the M . E . Z . would have put him down for an inferior toast . It vvas for one of two reasons that he had been selected

He had the honour of representing 22 out of 48 States , and being their representative in Masonry in this country , the M . E . Z . possibly thought he ought also to represent the civil government ; or else it was in the M . E . Z . ' s knowledge of things that he was a citizen of the world , and upon the axiom that the greater included the smaller , he must , therefore , be a citizen of the United States . It was a very important toast , and one they should receive with respect and reverence—the first

magistrate of the first country of the Western World . If he were not an Englishman he would wish to be an American . There were two or three epochs in English history . The first was that the Romans came and colonised this country . The next was that William the Conqueror came here and conquered us , and introduced the arts and sciences , and generally established a reputation they had got for civilisation , and they ought , therefore , to be thankful to him for having conquered

them , and for having introduced the civilisation of the Gauls and Normans . One of the duties they owed as Royal Arch Masons was respect to the authorities , and therefore they approached the toast with reverence and respect—respect for the representative of those who were their good friends , and respect as members of their chapter , having had the good fortune to have Bro . Waller , the late Consul-General , as a member and officer in the lodge , and whom the eventualities of

politics—he put it in the easiest language—had arranged that he should retire into his own home . His successor , Consul-General New , who was present , was a personal friend of the President ' s , and therefore they were speaking to the President , or his alter ego , and all the advantages their lodge could offer to America they offered to him if he would only avail himself of it . He had had so many opportunities of exhausting adjectives and superlatives that he would simply say that blood was thicker than water , and that the same blood flowed in their veins

although separated b y water . He proposed health and prosperity to the President of the United States , coupling with it the name of Comp . New . Comp . Consul-General J . C . NEW said that , apart from the aversion he had to making a speech , it afforded him pleasure that night to respond for the toast ofthe President of the United States . Personally , the President of the United States was his boyhood friend , his young-man companion , and his friend of maturer years . The President was a man equal in every respect to any man who had

Consecration Of The Angloamerican Chapter, No. 2191.

occupied the position , —a man of honour , education , and liberal minded views , who represented his country as well as any other man did . He was a Christian , a gentleman , a scholar , and a soldier , and vvas a good soldier in the time when they needed soldiers , for there was none better . Though that was not a personal toast , it was the health of the President of 65 millions of people—a country born out of the side , a rib taken from Great Britain . If it was grand in population—greater

than that of the British Isles , still it vvas in every respect they claimed to be equal . They claimed to be their friend , and the President of the United States was endowed with more power than the Queen , for there was no civilised country where greater powers were given in military or other respects during a brief term of years . The President ' s family was a distinguished one in England three centuries ago , notwithstanding some differences with the reigning powers , for they were on the side of the people , and they claimed he was on the side of the people

now . If England ever got into trouble her first born would rall y to the support of the old Mother Country . There vvas not in the United States a well thinking man who did not believe in the integrity of Great Britain , and who was not in favour of maintaining the ascendency of Great Britain in those parts she claimed . The English had been a civilising people , for they civilised America toa certain extent , and if their laws were not exactly the same , they were a commercial people . When that toast was proposed , it was coupled in every American ' s heart equal with that of the Queen and the Royal Family and the government of Great Britain .

The M . E . Z . next gave " The Consecrating Officers " and remarked that they had been a little disappointed in not having Comp . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke to perform the ceremony , but they had , he was pleased to state , a very good substitute in Comp . Frank Richardson , and those assisting him . He understood that those companions were nearly all their time doing that kind of work . The companions hoped the Consecrating Officers believed them when they returned thanks for the services rendered , and trusted they would come again among them .

Comp . FRANK RICHARDSON , G . D . of C . said he rose at once to return thanks for those members of Grand Chapter who had consecrated that chapter that afternoon , for the very kind way the M . E . Z . had proposed the toast of their health . He confessed at being a little non-plussed when he received a letter at lunch-time from his friend the Grand Scribe E ., giving him notice to consecrate the chapter , but as Masons to some extent were like soldiers , he at once threw himself into the

breach and prepared to perform his duty . He mi g ht say that this was the first Royal Arch Chapter he had ever had the honour of consecrating . If the Companions were satisfied with his performance he vvas doubly satisfied , but he felt he could not have performed the duty had it not been for the excellent assistance he received from the other companions . He was especiall y fortunate in having two distinguished Grand Chaplains in the other two chairs , which vvas a

very rare thing , because , generally speaking , they had one Grand Chaplain . Comp . Rev . Simpson vvas well known in the Royal Arch , and had performed lhe ceremony before , and he was particularly obliged to Comp . Rev . Pope that ni ght for the first time for the services rendered . He had an excellent companion in Comp . Cooper , and without his good friend Comp . Matthews he was afraid he should have gone aground . It had been to them all a labour of love , for it was a

great pleasure for any Grand Officer to be able to perform any work they were called upon to do . They were glad to see new lodges and chapters started , for , as they were sure to get new blood , their excellent Order greatly increased . He thanked them on behalf of the Grand Officers assisting for the way their health had been received . He had now a more pleasing duty to perform , if they would allow him , to propose "The Health of the M . E . Z . " It was a special honour for any

Mason to be selected as the W . M . or the head of any organisation to which he belonged , but it was a double honour for a brother or companion to be selected as the head of a new lodge or chapter , because it showed that amongst the founders he was reputed to be the most competent for the work . On that occasion he was satisfied that the founders had exercised a wise discretion in selecting Comp . Clark , as he had been through the work before , and was perfectl y capable of taking the management of a new vessel . Although they had done so

well in the lodge , there was still room to do better in the chapter . It vvas a hi g her branch of the Craft , and , therefore , one that called for greater energy , and , certainly , a greater amount of work . He was satisfied that at the end of the year the M . E . Z . would leave the chair with the regret of all , but at the same time with their thanks for the way he had managed their affairs and upheld the honour and dignity , not only of the Order , but of that chapter . He asked the companions , with all sincerity and heartiness , to drink to the health of the M . E . Z .

Comp . ADOLPHUS C LARK , M . E . Z ., in reply , said Comp . Richardson had explained why he thought the founders had selected him as their M . E . Z . He did not know that Comp . Richardson was exactly correct . He reall y did not know why he had been selected , but supposed it vvas because he was always willing to perform the duties assigned to him to the best of his ability . He was obliged to the founders for having selected him , and he would do what he could to promote

the interests of the chapter . He hoped they would not expect too much , for they might be disappointed , but he would endeavour to do the work to their satisfaction . He had been through the chair before , but some years ago , and it would , therefore , require a little working up . At the same time , however , nothing would keep him away from the chapter save sickness or unavoidable circumstances over which he had no control . He should ask no one to do his work while able to

fill the chair , and should endeavour to give satisfaction to the members . He thanked them one and all . Comp . Major Geo . L AMBERT , acting I . P . Z ., gave "The Visitors" in his usual cordial and genial manner . On behalf of the members , he thanked the visitors for the honour done them in coming amongst them , and if they had been ploased in what they had seen , he was confident that those placed in the chairs that

evening would not disappoint them should they honour them again vvith their presence . As an old worker , having had 3 6 years in Masonry , and having been the Installing Master on many occasions , he hoped his younger friends would not disgrace their chapter by being faulty in the work . They were launching their new ship , and he apprehended they had some screws behind to propel her , and he thought they would carry on the work to the best of their ability , for he was sure they would

not let the ship be shipwrecked for want of work . That that mi ght be another link to join them most entirely to the great American nation , and that they might be able to receive those from the other side of the water when they arrived—with the same open hand of friendship and welcome as had been extended in the lodge —vvas their earnest wish and desire . It was with those sentiments he proposed the health of the visitors , coupling with it the name of Comp . Pendlebury .

Comp . A . A . P ENDLEBURY , A . G . S . E ., returned hearty and sincere thanks . It had been to him a great source of regret that Comp . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke should feel unable to be present and perform the duties , and he had no doubt the G . S . E . had been very anxious and troubled concerning it . It would , however , afford him great pleasure and gladness when he heard how well the ceremony had been performed by Comp . Richardson and those assisting him . He wished the chapter every success , and as he had had the opportunity of visiting the lodge , hoped he should be a visitor to the chapter .

" The Second and Third Principals " was given , and responded to by Comps . J . WOOLLEY , H ., and H . C . LAMBERT , J . "The Officers" having been duly honoured , the Janitor ' s toast closed the proceedings . The musical portions of the ceremony and an excellent programme after the banquet received admirable treatment at the hands of Comp . H . Schartau , assisted by Comps . F . Bevan and A . Kenningham .