Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Consecration Of The Grafton Lodge Of M.M.M.. No. 415.
THE CONSECRATION OF THE GRAFTON LODGE OF M . M . M .. No . 415 .
Long years have sped since Mrs . Caudle thought fit and proper to apostrophise her errant spouse on his clandestine attainment of the honourable Degree of a Mason , and , in her anxiety to gain an insig ht * into the mysteries oi the Craft , to belabour him the livelong night with waspish phrase or wheedline tone . In this vear of arace courtesv forbids that we
should acknowledge the existence of that estimable lady or her descendants , while experience teaches that we may safely speak of her as " the late Mrs . Caudle . " Instead
thereof we have a sprightly angel , interested in all the doings of her lord , loading him the while with those due
congratulations as Degree follows Degree and glory , glory . The arrival of this happy consummation is in no
small measure due to the daily increasing influence of the better half in all matters benevolent , and to the growing popularity of our Craft under the auspices of our Royal
Master . The admittance of the gentler sex to our public functions , and , as the coming Mark Benevolent Festival will prove , their absolute concurrence in matters charitable , goes far to show that
the mothers and daughters of England are with us heart and soul . Seeing , then , that the Mark Degree has been the first to recognise the new era , and to give to Beatrice and to Benedick alike an equal and social interest in its Masonic Charity , it . was with an appreciative satisfaction that I accepted the invitation of the
founders of the new Grafton Mark Lodge to attend their consecration on Wednesday , June 25 th . The names of the brethren
called together by the Deputy Grand Master to assist him in his labours are of foremost interest , for surely so
distinguished a coterie has seldom been assembled for so felicitous a purpose . Bro . the Earl of Euston , as W . M . ; Bro .
Col . S . H . Clerke , as S . W . ; Bro . Frank Richardson , as J . W . ; Bro . the Rev . J . A . Lloyd , as Chap . ; Bro . C . F . Matier , as D . C . ; Bro . Col . A .
B . Cook , as I . G . ; and Bro . F . H . Cozens , as Org . And , further , let me add that by command of the Deputy Grand Master , each and all appeared in all the blaze ancl glory of full dress . A glance round the lodge room showed that the honour thus delicately conveyed was duly appreciated by the founders . Side by side and earnestly
conversing on the coming ceremonial were Bros . Berridge , Lord Dungarvan , and Alfred Williams . Bros . Jabez Church and A . R . Carter were deeply engrossed in the contents of the ledger .
Bros . Gordon Ross , E . J . Conlon , and J . C . Collier were studying the properties of the lodge , whilst amongst a group
of brethren surrounding Bros . Bri ghtenand Major Probyn , I noticed Bros . Andrews and Major Baker . Genial as ever , Bros . H . J . Hitchins and Augustus Harris were titillating the fancy of Bros . A . F .
Church , Barnes , and Major Carrell , with anecdote on anecdote , drawn from their experience of theatrical life , while soft and low the gentle touch of Bro . F . H . Cozens dreamed out sweet melod y from the organ .
The Consecration Of The Grafton Lodge Of M.M.M.. No. 415.
A cry of " Brethren , to order , " announced the advent of the procession , which was closed by the stalwart form of our Dep . Grand Master and , as he entered the chair and placed his officers , we recognised that success was assured . " Brethz-en and founders of the Grafton Lodge , —This evening it is for the second time my privilege to be associated
with a body of Masons who have done honour to my family and myself in adopting the title of my father as their designation for all ages in the
Masonic world . On the first occasion , in this same hall , but in another Degree , I myself stood in your position as a founder , but this evening it is
an untold pleasure to me to appear before you by command of the M . W . G . M . as your Consecrating Officer . Let me assure you that it is
with no small amount of pride I take the lead in the conduct of a ceremony which will effectively place on the roll
of lodges of the Mark Masters of England the name of one very dear to me , the best of fathers and the best of men ,
who , though not himself a Mason , has proved himself throughout a long and brilliant career to be possessed of every thought and impulse which we are taught to believe , ancl to fervently trust , as Masons , is , and ever will be , our common qualification . "
With these few words Lord Euston commenced his duties , and after the delivery of an interesting and instructive oration from the Past Grand Chaplain , he continued and finished the ceremony . To say that our Grand
Secretary performed the ceremony of installation is merely to point out the fact that it was completed with earnestness and solemnity , and Bro .
Berridge having been placed in the chair as first W . M ., the several offices were distributed to the satisfaction of all concerned .
Bro . Williams as I . P . M ., Bro . Augustus Harris in the Senior Warden ' s chair , ancl Bro . Lord Dungarvan , as his
colleague in the S ., promised support and assistance to the W . M . ; while the gracing of the centre pedestals , with three such sturdy Craftsmen
as Bros . J . C . Collier , R . L . Andrews , and H . J . Hitchins was in itself an assurance that no bad work would find place or part in the Grafton structure . What better Treasurer could be appointed than Bro . Jabez Church , and where found so competent a R . of M . as Bro . Major Carrell .
A few kind words from the W . M . followed Bro . A . R . Carter tothe Secretary ' s chair , and then the dovetipped staves were worthily entrusted to Bros , Gordon Ross and Alfred Church .
The wand of Director of Ceremonies in the hands of Bro . Brighten assured an experienced officer to the service of the lodge , and the fraternal
enthusiasm of all present showed that Bro . Conlon ' s investiture as I . G . was popular and welcome . With the
appointment of Bros . Probyn and Baker as Stewards , the proposition and acceptance of the Consecrating Officers
as honorary members , the presentation of founders' jewels to Bro . the Earl of Euston and Bro . C . F . Matier , and a vote of thanks to His Grace the Duke of Grafton for his sponsorship of the lodge , the proceedings closed , and so to dinner .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Consecration Of The Grafton Lodge Of M.M.M.. No. 415.
THE CONSECRATION OF THE GRAFTON LODGE OF M . M . M .. No . 415 .
Long years have sped since Mrs . Caudle thought fit and proper to apostrophise her errant spouse on his clandestine attainment of the honourable Degree of a Mason , and , in her anxiety to gain an insig ht * into the mysteries oi the Craft , to belabour him the livelong night with waspish phrase or wheedline tone . In this vear of arace courtesv forbids that we
should acknowledge the existence of that estimable lady or her descendants , while experience teaches that we may safely speak of her as " the late Mrs . Caudle . " Instead
thereof we have a sprightly angel , interested in all the doings of her lord , loading him the while with those due
congratulations as Degree follows Degree and glory , glory . The arrival of this happy consummation is in no
small measure due to the daily increasing influence of the better half in all matters benevolent , and to the growing popularity of our Craft under the auspices of our Royal
Master . The admittance of the gentler sex to our public functions , and , as the coming Mark Benevolent Festival will prove , their absolute concurrence in matters charitable , goes far to show that
the mothers and daughters of England are with us heart and soul . Seeing , then , that the Mark Degree has been the first to recognise the new era , and to give to Beatrice and to Benedick alike an equal and social interest in its Masonic Charity , it . was with an appreciative satisfaction that I accepted the invitation of the
founders of the new Grafton Mark Lodge to attend their consecration on Wednesday , June 25 th . The names of the brethren
called together by the Deputy Grand Master to assist him in his labours are of foremost interest , for surely so
distinguished a coterie has seldom been assembled for so felicitous a purpose . Bro . the Earl of Euston , as W . M . ; Bro .
Col . S . H . Clerke , as S . W . ; Bro . Frank Richardson , as J . W . ; Bro . the Rev . J . A . Lloyd , as Chap . ; Bro . C . F . Matier , as D . C . ; Bro . Col . A .
B . Cook , as I . G . ; and Bro . F . H . Cozens , as Org . And , further , let me add that by command of the Deputy Grand Master , each and all appeared in all the blaze ancl glory of full dress . A glance round the lodge room showed that the honour thus delicately conveyed was duly appreciated by the founders . Side by side and earnestly
conversing on the coming ceremonial were Bros . Berridge , Lord Dungarvan , and Alfred Williams . Bros . Jabez Church and A . R . Carter were deeply engrossed in the contents of the ledger .
Bros . Gordon Ross , E . J . Conlon , and J . C . Collier were studying the properties of the lodge , whilst amongst a group
of brethren surrounding Bros . Bri ghtenand Major Probyn , I noticed Bros . Andrews and Major Baker . Genial as ever , Bros . H . J . Hitchins and Augustus Harris were titillating the fancy of Bros . A . F .
Church , Barnes , and Major Carrell , with anecdote on anecdote , drawn from their experience of theatrical life , while soft and low the gentle touch of Bro . F . H . Cozens dreamed out sweet melod y from the organ .
The Consecration Of The Grafton Lodge Of M.M.M.. No. 415.
A cry of " Brethren , to order , " announced the advent of the procession , which was closed by the stalwart form of our Dep . Grand Master and , as he entered the chair and placed his officers , we recognised that success was assured . " Brethz-en and founders of the Grafton Lodge , —This evening it is for the second time my privilege to be associated
with a body of Masons who have done honour to my family and myself in adopting the title of my father as their designation for all ages in the
Masonic world . On the first occasion , in this same hall , but in another Degree , I myself stood in your position as a founder , but this evening it is
an untold pleasure to me to appear before you by command of the M . W . G . M . as your Consecrating Officer . Let me assure you that it is
with no small amount of pride I take the lead in the conduct of a ceremony which will effectively place on the roll
of lodges of the Mark Masters of England the name of one very dear to me , the best of fathers and the best of men ,
who , though not himself a Mason , has proved himself throughout a long and brilliant career to be possessed of every thought and impulse which we are taught to believe , ancl to fervently trust , as Masons , is , and ever will be , our common qualification . "
With these few words Lord Euston commenced his duties , and after the delivery of an interesting and instructive oration from the Past Grand Chaplain , he continued and finished the ceremony . To say that our Grand
Secretary performed the ceremony of installation is merely to point out the fact that it was completed with earnestness and solemnity , and Bro .
Berridge having been placed in the chair as first W . M ., the several offices were distributed to the satisfaction of all concerned .
Bro . Williams as I . P . M ., Bro . Augustus Harris in the Senior Warden ' s chair , ancl Bro . Lord Dungarvan , as his
colleague in the S ., promised support and assistance to the W . M . ; while the gracing of the centre pedestals , with three such sturdy Craftsmen
as Bros . J . C . Collier , R . L . Andrews , and H . J . Hitchins was in itself an assurance that no bad work would find place or part in the Grafton structure . What better Treasurer could be appointed than Bro . Jabez Church , and where found so competent a R . of M . as Bro . Major Carrell .
A few kind words from the W . M . followed Bro . A . R . Carter tothe Secretary ' s chair , and then the dovetipped staves were worthily entrusted to Bros , Gordon Ross and Alfred Church .
The wand of Director of Ceremonies in the hands of Bro . Brighten assured an experienced officer to the service of the lodge , and the fraternal
enthusiasm of all present showed that Bro . Conlon ' s investiture as I . G . was popular and welcome . With the
appointment of Bros . Probyn and Baker as Stewards , the proposition and acceptance of the Consecrating Officers
as honorary members , the presentation of founders' jewels to Bro . the Earl of Euston and Bro . C . F . Matier , and a vote of thanks to His Grace the Duke of Grafton for his sponsorship of the lodge , the proceedings closed , and so to dinner .