Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Consecration Of The Sir Thomas White Lodge, No. 1820.
lodge called the Northern Bar Lodge . I think , perhaps , our Bro . Inner Guard perhaps might be better able to tell you about that than I can . ( Bro . Cooper Smith -. No , Worshipful Master , I have no acquaintance with it . ) I thought perhaps you had visited it ; but it originated then in the fact that when the alteration took place in the different circuits , the baristers who were members of the Northern Bar
originated the lodge in order that they might meet together socially , although they did not meet professionally on circuit . It is a very jovial lodge , as I can testify , and it is composed certainly of some of the most eminent men who are connected with the bar of this country . Then comes another musical lodge , called Orpheus Lodge , a parochial lodge , called St . Clement Danes Lodge , of which our Rev .
Bro . R . J . Simpson was in a great measure the originator . We have then another parochial lodge , called the St . Dunstan ' s Lodge , and all of these are connected with a particular class . There is another , called the St . Leonard Lodge , Shoreditch , which is again a parochial lodge . The University Lodge we all know emanated from the fact that the Westminster and Keystone Lodge was a very large lodge ,
composed chiefly of Oxford men , and the Cambridge men thought they would like to have it finger in the pie as well as the Oxford men , and , therefore , they originated the lodge as a sort of outlying element in associating the members of the University of Cambridge . And the last , brethren , and 1 may say hot the least , which I shall trouble you with is a lodge which was established by the
noncommissioned officers of London . They complained that they had no lodge in which they could associate ; the lodges generally speaking were too expensive for their men , and they , therefore , wished to have a lodge where they might all meet together , on the same level , as men and brethren , I will net say out of uniform , but at any rate out of the pale of the military control .
The Wanderers' Lodge is now , I believe , considerably above ioo strong , and it has not confined its labours to the non-commissioned officers , or those who are associated with them , because a great number of the officers of the army hearing of this lodge have joined with their subalterns , and become members of the Wanderers' Lodge . Bro . Fenn just now reminds me that a short time ago I
had the pleasure of consecrating a lodge at the Alexandra Palace , and of installing our Bro . Cooper Smith ( who is kindly acting as our Inner Guard to day ) as first Master of that lodge ; and that lodge also bcarsa close resemblance to this , inasmuch as it emanated from a school called the Cholmondeley , which has , I think , its head-quarters at Highgate , and therefore I was wrong in saying this was
the first of these lodges which have appeared in a scholastic form . Brethren , lam sure from the number we see round this room , that you wish this lodge good speed , and I trust that when the labours of the day are finished we shall hand over the warrant and the government of the lodge to these who will well guard them . I naturally take an interest in this lod ^ e , being an old scholar of the Merchant
Taylors , and I shall be glad to see it flourish and prosper . I will not trouble you any further , I have perhaps said a great deal too much about these things ; but at any rate you will forgive me on such an occasion as this , when the Installing Master is expected to make some observations on the work he is engaged in . ( Hear , hear . ) After the usual formalities following the opening address ,
Bro . Hervey called on Bro . the Rev . J . Edmund Cox to deliver the oration . Bro . the Rev . J . Edmund Cox , D . D ., P . G . Chaplain , then said : Brethren , I am called upon , somewhat unprepared , to address you on this occasion , and I must throw myself upon your consideration and fraternal good will , if I should fall short in the duty imposed upon
me , as I fear in all probability will be the case . Nevertheless , I will endeavour to do my best to promote the interests of the lodge , and to show how much 1 love and admire the grest principles and tenets of our Order . My first duty will be to direct you to the highest and noblest of principles enunciated in the whole tenets of the Craft— " Glory to God in the highest , and on earth peace , goodwill towards men . "
Masonry , so long as it has flourished in its pure and palmy condition , has never lost sight of the first great duty of paying adoration and ascribing glory and honour to The Great Architect of the Universe , Masonry in itself having promoted through the length and breadth of the world that " brotherly love , relief , and truth " which are combined in those words of sublime expression , " peace on
earth , goodwill towards men . " I have a strong conviction for my own part , that Masonry isderived from the very earliest times . I have on several occasions been somewhat ridiculed for maintaining this position , but the more I have studied Masonry , and the longer I have enjoyed taking part in its ceremonies , the more am I persuaded that it has been handed down from a period which is little thought of , I
ear , by mar . y of those who have been initiated into the Order . My own firm conviction is , that it first of all spiang into notice at the Great Dispersion , when languagewas confounded , and my belief is that though the brethren , the then Masons , the Craftsmen of that period ( for we know the Dispersion took place on account of their attempting to build a tower that should reach to 1 leaven , so that
it should save future generations from the waters of a Flood ) —carried away with them , as they could never speak the same language hereafter , certain substituted " signs and symbols , " by which they should be known one to another wherever they might plant their foot , or inhabit far distant countries . I take this for granted in a great measure from circumstances , of which you are probably aware , that
whereever you travel over the face of the earth and water , whether it be to far distant or unexplored islands of the'sea , or whether it be among those poor unhappy men now contending and fighting against our power in South Africa , there you will find that there are signs and symbols of our Order , and even there those signs arc given , accepted and received as proofs offratcrnity existing amongst them . Of the power of Masonry in other parts of the world I may de-
Consecration Of The Sir Thomas White Lodge, No. 1820.
tain you with an anecdote concerning a dear boy of mine now gone to his rest , an old Merchant Taylor , a schoolfellow of one or more members of this lodge , whom I have the pleasure of addressing . At the age of eighteen he went out to India at the fag end of the Mutiny . As soon as he was brought into active service he had to lead a detachment in order to capture the great rebel , Tantia Topee .
Five minutes before his arrival the rebel had escaped , and so his detachment was unable to catch him . He had however a fight , with thirty men under his command , with a body of the mutineers . This mere stripling of eighteen was about to be struck down by a stalwart Hindoo ; but he remembered the last piece of advice I gave him on the ship ' s deck as he was leaving Southampton— " If ever
you find yourself in difficulty or danger , never forget the sign of grief and lamentation "—for , I may say I myself initiated him into Masonry , passed , and raised him before he left this country , by dispensation , he being a lewis , The moment he was about to be cut down he gave that sign , the man dropped his sword and not only saved his life , but led him to his
lines . That is an evidence of what is effected through the instrumentality of Masonry , and is among my evidences of its being connected with the Dispersion . As time went on the Egyptian mysteries sprang into notice . We know that Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians , and I have a firm conviction that he took away with him from Egypt the secrets of the
Order which were afterwards developed in still wider extent , as time shows , by the rearing of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness . The great features of Masonry culminated in the building of King Solomon ' s Temple , and from that time to the present it has gone on increasing in force and vigour , declining at some periods of the world ' s history , reviving again in majesty and pride , but ever promoting the great
principles upon which it is founded , " glory to God in the highest , and planted on earth , peace , goodwill towards men . " We cannot look at our cathedrals , those ancient fanes , throughout the length and breadth of our country as elsewhere in the world , without bearing testimony to the fact that they are the products of Masons who were operative , of the guilds of Masonry that
existed not only in this land but every land in the world , not even excepting India — buildings which are still the marvels of our age brought to perfection by the skill of the Craftsmen . I need not remind you , who are well informed concerning the 'progress of Masonry in our own land , how it has developed within the last few years . I hope and trust it will devclope more
and more , and that we may have quality amongst us rather than quantity , that the true ptinciplcs of Masonry may be looked to before receiving a brother within our portals , and that none but worthy , and worthy men alone , shall find admission within the precints of our lodges . I do most earnestly hope and trust still further that we may find many of the
ceremonies revived which I remember being carried out in my young days , and which , at the age of five years , induced me to say if I lived to be old enough I would be a Mason — a determination which I never forgot . Whenever such events occur I believe they make a great impression , and will continue to do so continually ; but I regret to say that of late years
the laying of the foundation stones if noble and stately edifices has been greatly neglected . I did hope and trust , and I made every effort to get it carried out , that when that pile of buildings in the Strand , the Law Courts , were about to be commenced , the first stone might have been laid in Masonic form and of order . When His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex was Grand Master of the Order , he
he would not , on any consideration whatever , have permitted any building of importance to be reared without the Grand Lodge being present , and he himself , or his Deputy , laying the chief corner stone ; and I do hope if stately buildings are to rise still more and more among us , His Royal Highness , our worthy , esteemed , and noble Grand Master , may be induced himself to take the line which his
granduYiclc always took , and that we may have Masonry recognised before the world as it is recognised among ourselves , as being of immense utility in promoting the noblest actions combined with the grandest matters that can possibly be conceived . I throw these remarks out with diffidence , and in bringing this imperfect and unprepared oration to a close , I wish this lodge every prosperity that can possibly
befall it , and that 1 may live to see it improving in its work , and promoting the welfare of the Craft , individually and collectively , to the advancement of the " Glory of God in the highest , on earth peace , goodwill towards men . " ( Applause . ) 'The ceremony of consecration was then proceeded with and completed , and at its close Bro . Hervey installed Bro .
Robert Grey , Past Grand Deacon , as Master of the lodge , on the presentation of Bro . Thomas Fenn , P . G . D . Bro . W . Rhys Williams , P . A . G . D . C , was invested as S . W ., and Bro . 'Thomas Trollope , P . M . as J . W . Bro . Joseph J . Forrester was unanimously elected Treasurer , anil investde with the collar and jewel of his office . Bro . J . M . Hare was invested as Secretary ; Bro . F . Vialls , S . D . ; Bro . Rev .
R . F . Hosken , J . D . ; Bro . H . Bue , I . G . ; and Bro . J . Daly was elected anil invested as Tyler . Votes of thanks to the Consecrating Officers were passed , and those brethren were elected honorary members of the lodge . A long list of names of intending initiates and joining members was given in , and the brethren then closed lodge , and adjourned to a choice banquet . The usual toasts followed in . due
course . The W . M ., in proposing the toast of " The Queen anil the Craft , " said he proposed to set an example that he hoped would be followed in this loJgc , that of making short speeches . 'The sincerity of the brethren ' s thoughts and wishes were none the less for brevity , and he was peifeclly certain the brethien would appreciate it the more . The first toast that naturally sprang to their lips was one
Consecration Of The Sir Thomas White Lodge, No. 1820.
that they as Masons , doubly so as those Masons were ol 1 Merchant Taylors' boys , gave with that loyalty and en thusiasm which he hoped and trusted it was impossible to surpass— " Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen , " ^ mother of their Grand Master , who by her high qualities had so endeared herself to her subjects by the true princi pleof morality " and virtue which had ever distinguished her
thoughts and actions . The W . M ., in giving "The Health of the M . W . G . M . the Prince of Wales , " said the toast was always given and received by Freemasons in the way that it deserved , with true loyalty and affection ; but it was not on every occasio n that they could return their heartfelt thanks and gratitude to their G . M . as they could that day , for having placed in
their possession a warrant which they meant to uphold and honour . The G . M . ' s qualities were known so well to every Englishman , so well to every Mason , that it would be superfluous for him ( the W . M . ) in any way to illustrate them on this occasion , and he would merely ask the brethren to drink " Health , Happiness , and Long Life to our well beloved Most Worshipful Grand Master . "
The W . M . then said he now passed on to a toast , sincere as their feelings and their sentiments were in the first two , which possibly appealed more nearly to the brethren from the fact that they were about to drink the health of some brethren who were present ; and he had first of all to ask them to do honour to that worthy , able Pro Grand Master , who so admirably seconded their illustrious leader .
He asked them also to recognise with the meed of praise that was due to him , Lord Skelmersdale , a most thorough Mason , a most thorough English gentleman . He asked them also to do honour—although he was one himselfto the body of Grand Officers , present and past ; and he might here say that he recollected on a recent occasion , when having made the mistake of saying " past and
present , " he was told by a Grand Officer—a present Grand Officer in both senses of the word ( and long mi ght he continue to be in that position)—that a living jackass was better than a dead lion . He ( the W . M . ) felt the force o [ the observation , but he also felt how much better was the living lion than the dead jackass . He felt as he always did feel when that brother was present , that they had a
real lion in their presence—their much beloved and respected Bro . John Hervey . ( Cheers . ) They had to-night to do honour to the lodge such an assemblage of Grand Officers , present and past , as was seldom seen at the consecration of any lodge . Several Grand Officers had written the kindest letters to him expressing their inability to be present . Some had even so far strained their
engagements as to be present to assist in consecrating the lodge , but had not been able to remain to partake of the hospitality of the banquet ; but he was sure the lodge heartily thanked them for their attendance , and heartily thanked the Grand Officers who had on this occasion come to witness the birth of this lodge . He could only hope that they might in future days over and over again visit the lodge to watch
us growth and progress , and give the advice and assistance which they were ever willing to render to any and every lodge in the Craft . He would couple with the toast the name of the Rev . Dr . Cox , who had so ably delivered the oration and performed all the duties of Chaplain that eiening . The Rev . J . Edmund Cox , D . D ., P . G . C , in reply said :
W . M . and Brethren , as the Senior Grand Officer of Grand Lodge here present , and in virtue of the rank which I have the honour to hold in Grand Lodge , the W . M . has been pleased to couple my name with this toast , and I rise on behalf of my brethren and myself to acknowledge with the utmost gratitude the kind and fraternal manner in which we have been received here , and also for the
admirable manner in which the health of our respected chiefs , the Earl of Carnarvon and Lord Skelmersdale , have been received . I have had great pleasure in assisting at the consecration of this lodge to-day , and if I have in any way whatever contributed to your happiness , and to the benefit of the lodge by being present and taking part in the work , 1 am abundantly rewarded . When I had
the honour of receiving the invitation , so fraternally and and kindly offered to me , I at once hastened to accept it ; for although I am not an old Merchant Taylors' bo / myself , yet there is no Company within the City of London in which I am more interested than in that grand old guild , for arc they not the patrons of the preferment I have the honour to hold under their care
and their consideration , which consideration and care are always manifested with the utmost kindness , and with every mark and token of friendship and regard , day by day more and more endearing me to that society with which I have the gratification , though late in life , to be in a certain sense connected ? But it is not merely in recognition of that appointment which I hold and under which ,
as I say , I receive every mark of kind consideration and courtesy that I have the pleasure of being hetc to assist in the conversation and working of the lodge , and to address you as at present , but I have had two sons educated in that school , one of whom I havc mentioned to you to-day , the only one who was a Mason . The elder is still living , and is serving his
Master , I hope to the best of his power and ability , in a large sphere of usefulness in Liverpool ; but if " were aware of our meeting here to-night , and of the establishment of this lodge , though he is no Mason , and has always shrunk from becoming one ( and I have mvet attempted to induce him to join the Craft , for I hold that we have no licht to ask or desire anv one that W
should do so unless he does it of his own free will and accordji yet I am satisfied his heart would leap towards his old schoo - fellows , many of whom have surrounded me this day , a " congratulated me concerning himself , no less than tn I am still able to continue among you to show ' »' my interest in the Craft has never ceased , that my d ** for its progress has never wavered , that my anxiety " ^ never in the slightest degree diminished in order th *
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Consecration Of The Sir Thomas White Lodge, No. 1820.
lodge called the Northern Bar Lodge . I think , perhaps , our Bro . Inner Guard perhaps might be better able to tell you about that than I can . ( Bro . Cooper Smith -. No , Worshipful Master , I have no acquaintance with it . ) I thought perhaps you had visited it ; but it originated then in the fact that when the alteration took place in the different circuits , the baristers who were members of the Northern Bar
originated the lodge in order that they might meet together socially , although they did not meet professionally on circuit . It is a very jovial lodge , as I can testify , and it is composed certainly of some of the most eminent men who are connected with the bar of this country . Then comes another musical lodge , called Orpheus Lodge , a parochial lodge , called St . Clement Danes Lodge , of which our Rev .
Bro . R . J . Simpson was in a great measure the originator . We have then another parochial lodge , called the St . Dunstan ' s Lodge , and all of these are connected with a particular class . There is another , called the St . Leonard Lodge , Shoreditch , which is again a parochial lodge . The University Lodge we all know emanated from the fact that the Westminster and Keystone Lodge was a very large lodge ,
composed chiefly of Oxford men , and the Cambridge men thought they would like to have it finger in the pie as well as the Oxford men , and , therefore , they originated the lodge as a sort of outlying element in associating the members of the University of Cambridge . And the last , brethren , and 1 may say hot the least , which I shall trouble you with is a lodge which was established by the
noncommissioned officers of London . They complained that they had no lodge in which they could associate ; the lodges generally speaking were too expensive for their men , and they , therefore , wished to have a lodge where they might all meet together , on the same level , as men and brethren , I will net say out of uniform , but at any rate out of the pale of the military control .
The Wanderers' Lodge is now , I believe , considerably above ioo strong , and it has not confined its labours to the non-commissioned officers , or those who are associated with them , because a great number of the officers of the army hearing of this lodge have joined with their subalterns , and become members of the Wanderers' Lodge . Bro . Fenn just now reminds me that a short time ago I
had the pleasure of consecrating a lodge at the Alexandra Palace , and of installing our Bro . Cooper Smith ( who is kindly acting as our Inner Guard to day ) as first Master of that lodge ; and that lodge also bcarsa close resemblance to this , inasmuch as it emanated from a school called the Cholmondeley , which has , I think , its head-quarters at Highgate , and therefore I was wrong in saying this was
the first of these lodges which have appeared in a scholastic form . Brethren , lam sure from the number we see round this room , that you wish this lodge good speed , and I trust that when the labours of the day are finished we shall hand over the warrant and the government of the lodge to these who will well guard them . I naturally take an interest in this lod ^ e , being an old scholar of the Merchant
Taylors , and I shall be glad to see it flourish and prosper . I will not trouble you any further , I have perhaps said a great deal too much about these things ; but at any rate you will forgive me on such an occasion as this , when the Installing Master is expected to make some observations on the work he is engaged in . ( Hear , hear . ) After the usual formalities following the opening address ,
Bro . Hervey called on Bro . the Rev . J . Edmund Cox to deliver the oration . Bro . the Rev . J . Edmund Cox , D . D ., P . G . Chaplain , then said : Brethren , I am called upon , somewhat unprepared , to address you on this occasion , and I must throw myself upon your consideration and fraternal good will , if I should fall short in the duty imposed upon
me , as I fear in all probability will be the case . Nevertheless , I will endeavour to do my best to promote the interests of the lodge , and to show how much 1 love and admire the grest principles and tenets of our Order . My first duty will be to direct you to the highest and noblest of principles enunciated in the whole tenets of the Craft— " Glory to God in the highest , and on earth peace , goodwill towards men . "
Masonry , so long as it has flourished in its pure and palmy condition , has never lost sight of the first great duty of paying adoration and ascribing glory and honour to The Great Architect of the Universe , Masonry in itself having promoted through the length and breadth of the world that " brotherly love , relief , and truth " which are combined in those words of sublime expression , " peace on
earth , goodwill towards men . " I have a strong conviction for my own part , that Masonry isderived from the very earliest times . I have on several occasions been somewhat ridiculed for maintaining this position , but the more I have studied Masonry , and the longer I have enjoyed taking part in its ceremonies , the more am I persuaded that it has been handed down from a period which is little thought of , I
ear , by mar . y of those who have been initiated into the Order . My own firm conviction is , that it first of all spiang into notice at the Great Dispersion , when languagewas confounded , and my belief is that though the brethren , the then Masons , the Craftsmen of that period ( for we know the Dispersion took place on account of their attempting to build a tower that should reach to 1 leaven , so that
it should save future generations from the waters of a Flood ) —carried away with them , as they could never speak the same language hereafter , certain substituted " signs and symbols , " by which they should be known one to another wherever they might plant their foot , or inhabit far distant countries . I take this for granted in a great measure from circumstances , of which you are probably aware , that
whereever you travel over the face of the earth and water , whether it be to far distant or unexplored islands of the'sea , or whether it be among those poor unhappy men now contending and fighting against our power in South Africa , there you will find that there are signs and symbols of our Order , and even there those signs arc given , accepted and received as proofs offratcrnity existing amongst them . Of the power of Masonry in other parts of the world I may de-
Consecration Of The Sir Thomas White Lodge, No. 1820.
tain you with an anecdote concerning a dear boy of mine now gone to his rest , an old Merchant Taylor , a schoolfellow of one or more members of this lodge , whom I have the pleasure of addressing . At the age of eighteen he went out to India at the fag end of the Mutiny . As soon as he was brought into active service he had to lead a detachment in order to capture the great rebel , Tantia Topee .
Five minutes before his arrival the rebel had escaped , and so his detachment was unable to catch him . He had however a fight , with thirty men under his command , with a body of the mutineers . This mere stripling of eighteen was about to be struck down by a stalwart Hindoo ; but he remembered the last piece of advice I gave him on the ship ' s deck as he was leaving Southampton— " If ever
you find yourself in difficulty or danger , never forget the sign of grief and lamentation "—for , I may say I myself initiated him into Masonry , passed , and raised him before he left this country , by dispensation , he being a lewis , The moment he was about to be cut down he gave that sign , the man dropped his sword and not only saved his life , but led him to his
lines . That is an evidence of what is effected through the instrumentality of Masonry , and is among my evidences of its being connected with the Dispersion . As time went on the Egyptian mysteries sprang into notice . We know that Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians , and I have a firm conviction that he took away with him from Egypt the secrets of the
Order which were afterwards developed in still wider extent , as time shows , by the rearing of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness . The great features of Masonry culminated in the building of King Solomon ' s Temple , and from that time to the present it has gone on increasing in force and vigour , declining at some periods of the world ' s history , reviving again in majesty and pride , but ever promoting the great
principles upon which it is founded , " glory to God in the highest , and planted on earth , peace , goodwill towards men . " We cannot look at our cathedrals , those ancient fanes , throughout the length and breadth of our country as elsewhere in the world , without bearing testimony to the fact that they are the products of Masons who were operative , of the guilds of Masonry that
existed not only in this land but every land in the world , not even excepting India — buildings which are still the marvels of our age brought to perfection by the skill of the Craftsmen . I need not remind you , who are well informed concerning the 'progress of Masonry in our own land , how it has developed within the last few years . I hope and trust it will devclope more
and more , and that we may have quality amongst us rather than quantity , that the true ptinciplcs of Masonry may be looked to before receiving a brother within our portals , and that none but worthy , and worthy men alone , shall find admission within the precints of our lodges . I do most earnestly hope and trust still further that we may find many of the
ceremonies revived which I remember being carried out in my young days , and which , at the age of five years , induced me to say if I lived to be old enough I would be a Mason — a determination which I never forgot . Whenever such events occur I believe they make a great impression , and will continue to do so continually ; but I regret to say that of late years
the laying of the foundation stones if noble and stately edifices has been greatly neglected . I did hope and trust , and I made every effort to get it carried out , that when that pile of buildings in the Strand , the Law Courts , were about to be commenced , the first stone might have been laid in Masonic form and of order . When His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex was Grand Master of the Order , he
he would not , on any consideration whatever , have permitted any building of importance to be reared without the Grand Lodge being present , and he himself , or his Deputy , laying the chief corner stone ; and I do hope if stately buildings are to rise still more and more among us , His Royal Highness , our worthy , esteemed , and noble Grand Master , may be induced himself to take the line which his
granduYiclc always took , and that we may have Masonry recognised before the world as it is recognised among ourselves , as being of immense utility in promoting the noblest actions combined with the grandest matters that can possibly be conceived . I throw these remarks out with diffidence , and in bringing this imperfect and unprepared oration to a close , I wish this lodge every prosperity that can possibly
befall it , and that 1 may live to see it improving in its work , and promoting the welfare of the Craft , individually and collectively , to the advancement of the " Glory of God in the highest , on earth peace , goodwill towards men . " ( Applause . ) 'The ceremony of consecration was then proceeded with and completed , and at its close Bro . Hervey installed Bro .
Robert Grey , Past Grand Deacon , as Master of the lodge , on the presentation of Bro . Thomas Fenn , P . G . D . Bro . W . Rhys Williams , P . A . G . D . C , was invested as S . W ., and Bro . 'Thomas Trollope , P . M . as J . W . Bro . Joseph J . Forrester was unanimously elected Treasurer , anil investde with the collar and jewel of his office . Bro . J . M . Hare was invested as Secretary ; Bro . F . Vialls , S . D . ; Bro . Rev .
R . F . Hosken , J . D . ; Bro . H . Bue , I . G . ; and Bro . J . Daly was elected anil invested as Tyler . Votes of thanks to the Consecrating Officers were passed , and those brethren were elected honorary members of the lodge . A long list of names of intending initiates and joining members was given in , and the brethren then closed lodge , and adjourned to a choice banquet . The usual toasts followed in . due
course . The W . M ., in proposing the toast of " The Queen anil the Craft , " said he proposed to set an example that he hoped would be followed in this loJgc , that of making short speeches . 'The sincerity of the brethren ' s thoughts and wishes were none the less for brevity , and he was peifeclly certain the brethien would appreciate it the more . The first toast that naturally sprang to their lips was one
Consecration Of The Sir Thomas White Lodge, No. 1820.
that they as Masons , doubly so as those Masons were ol 1 Merchant Taylors' boys , gave with that loyalty and en thusiasm which he hoped and trusted it was impossible to surpass— " Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen , " ^ mother of their Grand Master , who by her high qualities had so endeared herself to her subjects by the true princi pleof morality " and virtue which had ever distinguished her
thoughts and actions . The W . M ., in giving "The Health of the M . W . G . M . the Prince of Wales , " said the toast was always given and received by Freemasons in the way that it deserved , with true loyalty and affection ; but it was not on every occasio n that they could return their heartfelt thanks and gratitude to their G . M . as they could that day , for having placed in
their possession a warrant which they meant to uphold and honour . The G . M . ' s qualities were known so well to every Englishman , so well to every Mason , that it would be superfluous for him ( the W . M . ) in any way to illustrate them on this occasion , and he would merely ask the brethren to drink " Health , Happiness , and Long Life to our well beloved Most Worshipful Grand Master . "
The W . M . then said he now passed on to a toast , sincere as their feelings and their sentiments were in the first two , which possibly appealed more nearly to the brethren from the fact that they were about to drink the health of some brethren who were present ; and he had first of all to ask them to do honour to that worthy , able Pro Grand Master , who so admirably seconded their illustrious leader .
He asked them also to recognise with the meed of praise that was due to him , Lord Skelmersdale , a most thorough Mason , a most thorough English gentleman . He asked them also to do honour—although he was one himselfto the body of Grand Officers , present and past ; and he might here say that he recollected on a recent occasion , when having made the mistake of saying " past and
present , " he was told by a Grand Officer—a present Grand Officer in both senses of the word ( and long mi ght he continue to be in that position)—that a living jackass was better than a dead lion . He ( the W . M . ) felt the force o [ the observation , but he also felt how much better was the living lion than the dead jackass . He felt as he always did feel when that brother was present , that they had a
real lion in their presence—their much beloved and respected Bro . John Hervey . ( Cheers . ) They had to-night to do honour to the lodge such an assemblage of Grand Officers , present and past , as was seldom seen at the consecration of any lodge . Several Grand Officers had written the kindest letters to him expressing their inability to be present . Some had even so far strained their
engagements as to be present to assist in consecrating the lodge , but had not been able to remain to partake of the hospitality of the banquet ; but he was sure the lodge heartily thanked them for their attendance , and heartily thanked the Grand Officers who had on this occasion come to witness the birth of this lodge . He could only hope that they might in future days over and over again visit the lodge to watch
us growth and progress , and give the advice and assistance which they were ever willing to render to any and every lodge in the Craft . He would couple with the toast the name of the Rev . Dr . Cox , who had so ably delivered the oration and performed all the duties of Chaplain that eiening . The Rev . J . Edmund Cox , D . D ., P . G . C , in reply said :
W . M . and Brethren , as the Senior Grand Officer of Grand Lodge here present , and in virtue of the rank which I have the honour to hold in Grand Lodge , the W . M . has been pleased to couple my name with this toast , and I rise on behalf of my brethren and myself to acknowledge with the utmost gratitude the kind and fraternal manner in which we have been received here , and also for the
admirable manner in which the health of our respected chiefs , the Earl of Carnarvon and Lord Skelmersdale , have been received . I have had great pleasure in assisting at the consecration of this lodge to-day , and if I have in any way whatever contributed to your happiness , and to the benefit of the lodge by being present and taking part in the work , 1 am abundantly rewarded . When I had
the honour of receiving the invitation , so fraternally and and kindly offered to me , I at once hastened to accept it ; for although I am not an old Merchant Taylors' bo / myself , yet there is no Company within the City of London in which I am more interested than in that grand old guild , for arc they not the patrons of the preferment I have the honour to hold under their care
and their consideration , which consideration and care are always manifested with the utmost kindness , and with every mark and token of friendship and regard , day by day more and more endearing me to that society with which I have the gratification , though late in life , to be in a certain sense connected ? But it is not merely in recognition of that appointment which I hold and under which ,
as I say , I receive every mark of kind consideration and courtesy that I have the pleasure of being hetc to assist in the conversation and working of the lodge , and to address you as at present , but I have had two sons educated in that school , one of whom I havc mentioned to you to-day , the only one who was a Mason . The elder is still living , and is serving his
Master , I hope to the best of his power and ability , in a large sphere of usefulness in Liverpool ; but if " were aware of our meeting here to-night , and of the establishment of this lodge , though he is no Mason , and has always shrunk from becoming one ( and I have mvet attempted to induce him to join the Craft , for I hold that we have no licht to ask or desire anv one that W
should do so unless he does it of his own free will and accordji yet I am satisfied his heart would leap towards his old schoo - fellows , many of whom have surrounded me this day , a " congratulated me concerning himself , no less than tn I am still able to continue among you to show ' »' my interest in the Craft has never ceased , that my d ** for its progress has never wavered , that my anxiety " ^ never in the slightest degree diminished in order th *