Consecration Of The Lancastr Ian Lodge, No. 2528.

CONSECRATION OF THE LANCASTR IAN LODGE , No . 2528 .

The consecration of the Lancastrian Lodge , No . 2528 , took place at the Frascati Restaurant , Oxford-street , on Wednesday the 10 th inst ., under exceptionally favourable auspices and in the presence of a large and

representative gathering . The Consecrating Officer , Bro . E . Letihworth , Grand Secretary , was assisted by Bros . Lord Skelmersdale , J . G . W ., as S . W . ; J . W . Maclure , M . P ., P . G . D ., as J . W . ; Rev . J . Studholme Brownrigg , P . G . Chap ., as Chap . ; - Frank Richatdson , P . G . D ., as D . C . ; and Major-Gen . F . Gadsden , G . S . B ., as l . G .

The following are the founders : Bros , the Earl of Lathom , Pro G . M . ; James J . Marsh , L . R . C . P ., L . R . C . S . ; E . E . Life ; T . H . Openshaw , M . S ., F . R . C . S . ; R . J . Railton , Edward Bartlett , William H . Booth , Robert Maguire , M . D ., F . R . C . P ., and Thomas Evans . There were also present : Bros . Alderman Joseph C . Dimsdale , G . Treas . ; J . Terry , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M .

Benevolent Institution ; J . M . McLeod , P . P . S . G . W . Deibys ., Sec . R . M . I . B . ; T . C . Walls , G . Std . Br . ; John Chadwick , P . G . S . B ., P . G . Sec . E . Lanes . ; W . Stevenson Hoyte , G . Org . ; Eugene Monteuuis , P . G . S . B . ; J . H . Sillitoe , P . G . Std . Br ., P . P . G . W . E . Lanes . ; George Everett , P . G . Treas . ; Robert Wylie , P . G . D . ; H . Sadler , G . Tyler ; V . A . Waterburg , P . M . 1476 ; F . Peck , 2272 ; D . F . Tryriii , 1305 ; G . F . Lancaster , P . M . 903 , P . P . G . Reg . ; W . W . Lee , W . M . 1897 .-

W . J . H . Whittall , 8 ; J . N . Hearn , W . M . 1381 ,- George May , 2000 ; Charles ChilleyJ 2005 ; Arthur Strugnell , 2264 ; J . W . Burgess , P . M . 2325 , P . P . S . G . D . VV . Lanes . ; T . S . Raffles , P . M . 2339 , P . P . G . C . ; W . S . Skelding ; H . Massey , 160 , P . M . 619 and 1928 ; Alex . Stoddart , P . M . 32 , P . P . G . W . ; Thos . Ball , W . M . 1403 , P . P . G . P . ; John Bolton , P . M . 580 , P . G . P . W . Lanes . ; R . Walker , P . M . 580 , P . P . G . D ., W . Lanes . ; Major Heap , P . M ., P . P . S . G . D . ; E . P . Mathers ,

1937 ; A . LeGrand , P . M . 766 ; F . A . Guimaraens , P . M . 416 , P . P . S . G . W . Surrey ; P . G . C . Shaw , S . W . 106 ; W . J . Stride , P . M . 176 and 209 S ; R . Schreiber , W . M . 2150 ; A . W . Oxford , P . M . 4 , P . G . S . ; J . Farrington Downer , P . P . G . C . Herts ; Edward Mojon , 1017 ; H . E . Peck , 1381 ; J . H . C . Dalton , 2181 ; E . Colwell 1381 ; W . D . Nott , 1876 ; A . D . Walker ( S . C . ); A . Ficdlater , S . D . 134 ; A . E . Sansome , P . M . 2033 , P . G . W . Mddx . ; J . A . Hosker ,

2158 ; Joseph Bladon , 1839 ; G . Millsom , P . M . 2262 , P . G . D . C . Bucks . ; James Kifr , 1791 ; Cuthbert R . Lee , W . M . 2128 ; John Locke , D . D . G . M . Barbadoes ; F . I ,. Gower , 2095 ; J . Laurence ; Thomas Brown , 1507 , P . J . G . D . Mddx ; H . M . D . Phillpotts , l . G . 1584 ; Alfred Eade . 1580 , P . P . A . G . D . C . Herts . ; W . M . Duckworth , P . M . and Treas . 1928 ; W . Hackin , 1381 ; J . Stephens , P . M . 1425 , P . G . D . Bucks , & c . ; and others .

The lodge having been opened , the Pro Grand Master was announced , and having been escorted into the room by a number of Grand Officers , he was duly saluted . The CONSECRATING OFFICER , addressing the brethren , then said : The object of our meeting here to-day is one which cannot fail to enlist the sympath y and evoke the good wishes of all good Masons . We are here for

the purpose of performing a most interesting and at the same time a very solemn ceremony—to constitute a new lodge and dedicate it to the service of Almighty God . The lodge we are about to consecrate will hereafter be known as the Lancastrian Lodge . The object of its founders is to enable Lancashire brethren residing in London to keep alive their connection with their old province . I must heartily congratulate the founders on having as

"leir first Master so distinguished a Ma « on as the Pro Grand Master , who a'so so ably rules over the Province of West Lancashire . I feel confident Inat this lodge , started under such favourable auspices , has before it a future ° < great prosperity , and I hope great usefulness . An oration was delivered by Bro . Rev . J . S . BROW ' NRIGO , Deputy Prov . "rand Master Bucks , and the lodge was then consecrated with the usual solemn ceremonial .

The Earl of Lathom , Pro Grand Master , having been installed as the irst W . M ., the following officers were invested : Bros . W . K . M . Tomlinson , A , p ., acting I . P . M . ; J . J . Marsh , S . W . ; E . E . Life , J . W . ; T . H . Open-*»* , Treas . ; J . Livesey , Sec . ; R . J . Railton , S . D . ; E . Bartlett , J . D . ; *) 'H . Booth , I . G . ; R . Maguire , Org . ; P . Horrocks , P . M ., D . C . ; T . , ' vans , J . Lawrence , and J . Haynes , P . M ., Stewards ; and L . G . Reinhardt , 1 yler .

Ihe PRO G . MASTER then said that at the last Prov . G . Lodge feting of West Lancashire Bro . F . J . Hubbard was unable to attend to wive his collar , and he thought that would be a fit and appropriate occasion 0 P'ace the collar of Prov . G . S . W . around the neck of that brother .

several propositions for initiation and joining were received , and " Hearty At VHS ' " having been tendered , the lodge was formally closed . "Th r t ' kan < I uet tne PK ° G . MASTF . R said he would give the first toast , e Queen and the Craft , " according to his usual custom without any M \ V Pu ° ' MASTER then proposed " H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , •'"• M ., " observing that His Royal Highness ' s health was drunk , he

Consecration Of The Lancastr Ian Lodge, No. 2528.

might say , in hundreds of places every day , the greater part of which were Masonic gatherings . He was convinced that nowhere was the henlth of His Royal Highness more heartily drunk than by the brethren of England , for they knew what a true Mason he was . It was impossible for him to

take the active part he would wish to do , but His Royal Highness did take a great interest in Masonry , and knew all that was going on , and it there was any difficult point or any question for serious considera ' . ion he was alwaj s ready to consider it and give his best attention .

Bro . Rev . J . STUDUOLMI-: BROWNRIGG , Deputy Prov . G . M . Bucks , then said that wherever in the broad English Empire Masons met the name of the Pro Grand Master was honoured . Wherever Lancashire metwhtther Masons or not—his name was honoured . So much for the past ,

now let him predict for the future and say that whenever this lodge met the brethren would always look with pride and pleasure to the first W . M . He gave them " The Pro G . M ., the Prov . G . M . of West Lancashire , and the W . M . of the Lancastrian Lodge . "

The PRO GRAND MASTER in reply , said : I thank you most sincerely for the way in which you have honoured this triple toast . It was not often that a man appeared in three parts in one play , but it is my honour on this occasion to occupy that post . I thank you for drinking my health as P ro Grand Master , I thank you for drinking my health as Prov . Grand Master of West

Lancashire , and especially as W . M . of this lodge . When the idea of a Lancastrian Lodge was first mooted the brethren who called upon me found me ready to accept it at once . Although it was not entirely an original idea , for there are other county ideas existing . Many of our brethren in a large commercial centre must migrate to London and they then lose connection

with their old lodges and it is a most excellent thing that a lodge should be established , at which not only Lancashire brethren would be welcome if they joined it , but that they would be welcome as guests whenever they appear . It is a way to increase good fraternal feeling , and ought to be copied by all provinces . I think short speeches should rule as far as I a m concerned , but

I will say , I hope this lodge will do all the goad I think it will , and increase the brotherly love between the two great Provinces of East and West Lancashire and London , and will be the means of increasing the prosperity of Masonry in general . I could dilate for a long time on the way in which Masonry has been increasing of late years , but I will not do more than say

this , that I can look at my own province , during my own reign , and tell you that when I was installed Provincial Grand Master , there were 72 lodges—I speak under correction—and at this moment there are 110—I am not an advocate of a great increase of lodges , for I think it is a great mistake , but I do say , where I see the necessity for a new lodge in a town , have it by all

means , if you can get enough to suppor t it . Where you find lodges with members numbering over 200 , as in many parts , then the time has arrived for them to swarm off . Those are the real reasons for making new lodges ; but to create new lodges for the purpose of giving

brethren new offices , I think , is a mistake . I CvUld not resist introducing this slight homily , but I am quite ready , and always shall be , to welcome new lodges if I can see there is any practical good , and if it will be for the good of the Order . I thank you most sincerely for the cordial and kind way in which you have received me here this evening .

" The Grand Officers " was submitted by Bro . J . J . MARSH , S . W ., whe thanked the Grand Ollicers Sor their presence , and said their merits were so well known that it was absolutely unnecessary that he ihould do more than simply propose the toast . Bro . Lord SKELMERSDALE , J . G . W ., in response , expressed his pleasure

at being present and in assisting , in however small a part , to the dedication of this lodge which would mark an epoch in the history of Lancashire brethren in London . The Dep . Grand Master ruled ever a nourishing province , and he wished he had been present to see this most representative gathering of

Lancashire men , a gathering that no other province or provinces could equal . The Grand Officers wished the lodge every success , and hoped the P 10 Grand Master would not be the last by a great number of the Grand Officers that Iodge would furnish .

The PRO GRAND MASTER then said it was his privilege to give a toast that he was sure would be received with acclamation—it was that of the Consecrating Officer and those who had assisted him . It had been his good fortune to be present on many occasions at the consecration of lodges and installations of Worshipful Masters , but would they allow him to say he had

never seen a ceremony more impressively or better performed than it was that day , and he wished to thank Bro . Letchworth for the admirable manner in which he performed his part of the work , and also those who assisted , and would those brethren allow him on behalf of the founders to offer them the honorary membership of the lodge . It made an enormous difference whether