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Article CONSECRATION OF THE SIR THOMAS WHITE LODGE, No. 1820. ← Page 3 of 3 Article CONSECRATION OF THE SIR THOMAS WHITE LODGE, No. 1820. Page 3 of 3 Article CONSECRATION OF THE SIR THOMAS WHITE LODGE, No. 1820. Page 3 of 3 Article ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. Page 1 of 1 Article BOROUGH OF PORTSMOUTH FREEMASONS' HALL AND CLUB COMPANY, LIMITED. Page 1 of 1 Article Obituary. Page 1 of 1
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Consecration Of The Sir Thomas White Lodge, No. 1820.
vht see it go forward and flourish , carrying out its great n 1 ' iciples through the length and breadth , not only of our I " ' ( and , but through every portion of the world . P rclon me , brethren , if my feelings somewhat carry c pway on an occasion of this kind . There is deep r lcrnnity in the services of that profession to which
I have the honour to belong ; but I can safely say , and I n ' sure you will bear with me in saying it , that deeply as I f ,.. l the importance and the reverence of those services in ' ¦ hich I have to minister , I can yet add that I do feel as i . Cply , as sincerely , and as conscientiously in whatver I can do for the cause and the progress of Freemasonry , each with regard to ministration having the
same duties to fulfil , the same rites to perform , the same occupation to carry forward to the utmost of one ' s iinivcr and ability , to promote that holy principle to which I have already adverted this day , of proclaiming ind striving to produce " peace on earth , goodwill towards men . " For myself , and brother Grand Officers , here present wn 0 " ° * bonour to permit me to be their
spokesman on such an occasion , 1 return you my sincere thanks , assuring you that this day will remain in my recollection so long as I live , as I am sure it will be in t ] ie jrs—to be one " that must ever be marked with red chalk . " ( Applause . ) The W . M ., in proposing " The Health of the Consecrating Officers , " said that it was no small thing when he
told the brethren that of all the Consecrating Officers he would have wished to hold the office and to be present at the time he was installed he could . not have selected five officers for whom he felt a deeper respect . There were no officers to whom he owed more in Masonry than he did to the five officers who had that day assisted in the consecration of the Sir Thomas White Lodge . Bro . Hervey was
so well known to the brethren and wherever Masonry was held under the English Constitution , or , he might say , under any ether Constitution Bro . Hervey ' s name was knoivn , and where it was known it was needless to say , respected to the utmost . He ( the W . M . ) deeply felt the kindness Bro . Hcr . cy had shown to him since the time that he ( the W . M . ) was a newly-raised M . M . Bro . Hervey had assisted and
taken an interest in lodges he ( the W . M . ) had belonged to , and had shown to him personally the most unvaried kindness . Bro . Dr . Cox he ( the W . M . ) owed in some measure an apology to , but at the same time he did not propose to render it ; as , although by some accident , he ( Bro . Cox ) was not aware that he would have to deliver an oration , he ( the W . M . ) could not but think
that it was somewhat of a happy mistake , as , had Bro . Cox studied what he had to say ever since the time he received his invitation , he could not have chosen more apt , fit , or impressive words than he had delivered . The brethren all appreciated what he did say , and they all thanked him from the bottom of their hearts . He ( tne W . M . ) would then pass on to his father in Masomy , Bro .
Murton , who had so kindly filled the office of S . W . hvery Mason who loved Masonry for Masonry ' s working liked llm . Murton ; they knew how indefatigable he had been and was at the only school of Masonry—the Lodge of Emulation—that school in which the ) had all worked in their time ( if they had not , the sooner they began the better ) . Bro . Robinson , the J . W . at the consecration , whom
he ( the W . M . ) had known so many years , was the highly esteemed and respected Treasurer of the Piince of Wales's Lodge . Bro . Robinson was so well known to all the breihren of the Craft that he ( the W . M . ) could only sincerely think him ; not a word which he ( the W . M . ) might say could in any way possibly add to his well known character as a Mason . He then passed to one who was not present
: it the tabic—to whom Masonry , indeed , owed much—Bro . Thomas Fenn—who , from the time he took office in Grand Lodge , had been an indefatigable worker . He ( the W . M . ) kit certain that if Sir Albert Woods was present he would say how much he appreciated Bro . Fenn ' s assistance , and acknowledge how much he owed to his assistance . Bro , Penn , although having another engagement , had , at great
personal inconvenience to himself , attended at the consecration of the Sir 'Thomas White Lodge . The kindness he had shown him ( the W . M . ) invariably from the commencement of his Masonic career had only been followed in this instance . What did they , as a lodge , not owe to 'he Consecrating Officers ? Those brethren hail attended ° n this most impressive and solemn occassion to launch
forth into life a new lodge with prospects of no one knew what before it . They had entrusted to the keeping of the founders the warrant that had heen granted by the Grand Master . The founders felt as deeply as Masons could feci the depth of the gratitude they owed the Consecrating Officers ; that they had done services that day to the lodge which he trusted would never be forgotten .
Bro . John Hervey , G . S ., in reply , said the feelings of the ° 'hcr Consecrating Officers , like his own , were that , in com-¦ a ff that day to assist in the consecration of the Sir Thomas "hite Lodge , they were simply performing a duty which ¦ - "glit to be undertaken by every man who was competent enough to undertake it , and that they ought not at any ('" ic to shirk the responsibility which devolved upon them 1 ! 1 "icir various situations . The other brethren who had
as--isted him felt with timsclf highly honoured by the com-I'l'nient paid to them by electing them honorary members ° ' 'be lodge , and he thought he might also say on their Pat ' as well as his own that they would look forward to filing to the lodge again to see how it was progressing ,
" see how its duties were performed , and to ascertain from l * sonal inspection how the woik was carried on . To •Uss from that which was personal to himself to J'nu-thing else , he would now do that which jj \ * much more congenial to his feelings than " "g of himself even , although he was asilea
' . vvith several members respected in the J *' and had done good service that evening . He / -hed now to propose for the brethren ' s acceptance the Hit cf " Succesa to the Sit Thomas While Ludgc . " I le
Consecration Of The Sir Thomas White Lodge, No. 1820.
thought that success was already assured , because when one looked how the lodge had been started , when one knew that in the Master ' s chair they had one who had already fulfilled the office in two other lo : lgcs , one of the most leading lodges of the day being one of them , the prince of Wales ' s , and one of the most comfortable lodges in the Craft , the St . Andrew ' s , he thought he might say
that the future of the lodge was secured under such management . Passing on then to the S . W ., they had their Bro . Rhys Williams , who had already passed the chair of'the Old Union , and who in that capacity fulfilled his duties in a manner to secure the happiness of the brethren and the well being of the lodge . The J . W ., Bro . Trollope , was a Past Provincial Grand Warden of Sussex ,
and of course he would not have attained that position without having worked hard for the Craft . Offering this toast to the brethren ' s notice , he ( Bro . Hervey ) was only performing the duties which devolved upon him as Consecrating Officer . In coupling the W . M . ' s name vvith the toast he might add that what he had already said would show that Bro . Grey was no new man , that he was not a
man who had not been trusted , but he was a man to whom the Sir Thomas White Lodge might look forward with confidence as one who would conduct their barque through all the shoals and difficulties to which a newly launched vesseL-was exposed , and who would do his best to insure every success and prosperity to the Sir 'Thomas White Lodge , No . 1820 , and he might say that the
brethren would drink it in 1820 port that had been pre . sented to the lodge by the W . M . of St . Andrew ' s Lodge , Bro . Forrester , to insure the success of the lodge . The W . M ., in reply , said : Brethren , I have now to return thanks for the toast that has just been proposed by Bro . Hervey , with which he couples my name . The toast was " Prosperity to Sir Thomas White Lodge . " How is
that prosperity to be assured but by each and every one of us in our respective offices both doing our own duties to the utmost of our power , and attempting to the utmost of cur ability to leave a good example to our successors . We hope and believe that many unborn Masons awaiting at the present moment to enter our fraternity will join our lodge . We know that in bringing Merchant Taylors into
the Craft we are making no mistake ; we know that we are bringing in those who have been good and true boys , those that we doubt not will in due course turn out true and good Masons . I know I am speaking for my brother officers , as well as for myself , when I say we intend , by God ' s help , to do the very best we can for the prosperity of the lodge and for the prosperity
of the Craft ; we have its interests at heart , and we mean to avail ourselves of the possession of the knowledge . Brethren , you were kind enough to couple my name , as the Master of the lodge , with this toast . It is no small position for a Mason to hold that of the first Mastership of a lodge . I feel deeply the importance of the trust placed in me . 1 feel how utterly inadequate I am to express to this meeting the feelings and the words
that should conic from this chair on such an important occasion as that on which we have this evening met , but whoever might fill this chair , nobody could more sincerely express the feelings that 1 now possess , the hope that this lodge may be a prosperous one . I hope and trust that it will be a credit and an honour to our great fraternity . Bro . 1 ltrvey , in the name of our lodge , and in the name of myself , I heartily thank you for your kind
expressions . Bro . J . C . Parkinson , P . G . D ., in responding to the toast of " 'The Visitors , " said although it is undoubtedly a great privilege , at the same time it is a very heavy responsibility to be called upon to speak on behalf of so distinguished , so brilliant , and on the whole so representative an assemblage as I now see before me . What can I possibly
say on their behalf ? Only that they , with myself , have entered most throughly and sympathetically into your feelings this evening , that we have shared with you your appreciation of the ceremony upstairs , that we have noticed with you that despite infirmity of years , and occasional ill health , our Bro . Hervey is so vigorous , so strong , so fully capable of rendering in its entirety the beauty of the
Masonic ritual . Were I to seek to gauge the hearts of the brethren whom I represent , I would venture for the moment to say that behind their enjoyment is a feeling of resentment against fate , that they too are not Merchant Taylors ; this has seemed an exceedingly hard thing to me this evening . Seeing and appreciating as I have done that result of all clique feeling , I should say the one that dates
from school boy days is the best , and it seems hard to me that I could not unite my deep love of Masonry with some reminiscence of schoolboy days , and that I do not , as members of this lodge do , belong to a lodge which recalls those happy , pleasant feelings of boys ; but wc are not like that gentleman who remained unmoved when the affecting charity sermon was preached , when every eye in the church
was wet , and who when he wasasked how it was he maintained his unrivalled and unequalled composure , answered , with unbroken calmness , " I do not belong to this parish , " for wc , thanks to the universality of Masonry , are able to sympathise and enjoy with you , to share your pleasures , we can appreciate and look forward to the triumphs I am sure this lodge is destined to achieve . Speaking in the
City , brethren , you arc so young as a lodge , and Freemasonry is so old , that I may perhaps be permitted if I quote from a speech I once heard delivered at an ancient company by a very eloquent prelate , the late Bishop of Winchester , who in returning thanks for the 1 louse of Lords said that it represented the past and the present , that
it maintained its freshness by absorbing into its ranks the foremost men of each generation , and so kept its vigour unimpaired . As he said , it combines that reverence for the past without which the present is a bubble , and it maintains that hold on the present without which the past is a ruin-like the bloom upon the cheek of the comely matron it speaks at once of the pictures of her youth and the
Consecration Of The Sir Thomas White Lodge, No. 1820.
dominion of her age . It had seemed to me this evening , through it may be a curious reflection , that I have shared in the pleasant pangs of parturition in taking part in the birth of a new lodge . The remaining toasts were then given , and the brethren
separated . Bros . Faulkner Leigh , J . Hodges , Walter Bolton , and Henry Parker entertained the brethren in the intervals between the toasts with some charming solo and part singing .
Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .
The monthly meeting of the Committee of this Institution was held on Wednesday , at Freemasons' Hall . Bro . Col . Creaton , Grand Treasurer , presided . The other brethren present were Bros . Raynham W . Stewart , P . G . D . ;• Richard Herve Giraud , P . G . D . ; James Percy Lcith , P . G . D . ; f ~> f TVtl .... T-U ^ — ^™ / -. > . T A T ? r t , IT T-. .-. t _ CGDilleyThomas Goode Farnfield Chas
. . , , J . A . , V . P ., . James Perceval , V . P ., A . H . Tattershall , Thomas Cubitt , P . G . P . ; Louis Stean , JohnG . Stevens , V . P ., James Kench , Assistant G . P . ; J . Newton , Dr . Jabez Hogg , P . G . P . ; J . M . Case , P . G . D . ; Lieut-Col . H . G . Somerville Burney , J . H . Leggott , V . P ., S . Rawson , P . Dist . G . M . China ; W . Hilton , W . Stephens , C . F . Hogard , and James Terry ( Secretary ) .
The Secretary reported the deaths of Bro . William Watson , of Sudbury , Bro . J . Willis , of London , and Mrs . M . Jenkins , of Devonport . He also reported the names of the successful candidates at the election of ifith of May last . The Chairman was then authorised to sign the necessary cheques , and the Committee adjourned .
Borough Of Portsmouth Freemasons' Hall And Club Company, Limited.
BOROUGH OF PORTSMOUTH FREEMASONS' HALL AND CLUB COMPANY , LIMITED .
This company , incorporated on the 17 th April last , promises to be the most successful undertaking in which the Freemasons is Portsmouth have ever embarked . The nominal capital is £ 3000 , in six hundred shares of £ 5
each , £ 2 a share is paid on allotment , and the remainder is to be paid in calls of £ 1 each , at intervals of not less than one month . This capital , with judicious management , should be sufficient to carry out the main object of the undertaking , i . e ., in providing suitable accommodation for the several Masonic lodges in Portsmouth , at a fair rental , so as to make the company commercially
successful by paying a moderate dividend to the shareholders . The lodge rooms will be available for the accommodation of lodges in April next ; and from the large and increasing support given to the company by the Craft in the borough , irrespective of the lodges to which they belong , will cause it to prove a lucrative investment , and strengthen the fraternal feeling already existing between the several
lodges in this locality . Some years since a joint Committee was appointed to consider a scheme for building a hall in which the several lodges could meet , but it was considered impract cable , and the idea was abandoned . Had a company been formed at that time in the same manner as the present venture , we doubt not , but that a considerable sum of money would have been saved by the
lodges , and the Masonic Charitable Institutions correspondingly benefited . The premises to be built at No . 79 , Commercial-road , Landport , for the accommodation of the Masonic Club about to be formed , will be a handsome building , and in keeping with the magnificent offices of the Gas Company at the corner of the block of buildings . Accommodation
will also be provided in this building for the Borough of Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce , and an entrance formed to lead to the lodge room in the rear . The foundation stone of this building will be laid in the course of a few weeks by His Worship the Mayor . The desirability of forming a Masonic Club for the Freemasons of the borough has been long apparent , and we doubt not but
that it will prove the most successful part of the undertaking . Considerable credit is due to the directorate for the admirable , judicious , and economical manner this company has been promoted , especially to the Chairman , His Worship the Mayor , Alderman William David King , J . P ., & c , and the Vice-Chairman , Mr . Councillor George Thomas
Cunningham , who have been indefatigable in their exertions to make the company a success . Some 400 shares have been taken in the short space of six weens , and the remaining 200 will doubtless be quickly disposed of . Those Freemasons who wish to indentify themselves with the company should apply at an early date to the Secretary , Mr . E . S . Main , St . Clair-terracc , Buckland , for the remaining shares .
Obituary.
Obituary .
BRO . CAPT . GEO . WATTSON . Wc regret to announce the death of Bro . Capt . Geo . Wattson , which occurred suddenly on the 8 th inst ., at his residence , " Eastbourne Villa , " Rochester . He was a most energetic and devoted Freemason , as the following will show : —He ranked as P . M . 1050 , P . P . G . R . Kent , P . Z . Chap . 20 , P . M . M . 6 9 , G . M . J . D ., and at the time' of death was W . M . M . of 237 , of which lodge he was the founder about four months since .
A . warrant has been granted for a new lodge at Shureliatu , to be called the Burrell Lodge , No . 1829 .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Consecration Of The Sir Thomas White Lodge, No. 1820.
vht see it go forward and flourish , carrying out its great n 1 ' iciples through the length and breadth , not only of our I " ' ( and , but through every portion of the world . P rclon me , brethren , if my feelings somewhat carry c pway on an occasion of this kind . There is deep r lcrnnity in the services of that profession to which
I have the honour to belong ; but I can safely say , and I n ' sure you will bear with me in saying it , that deeply as I f ,.. l the importance and the reverence of those services in ' ¦ hich I have to minister , I can yet add that I do feel as i . Cply , as sincerely , and as conscientiously in whatver I can do for the cause and the progress of Freemasonry , each with regard to ministration having the
same duties to fulfil , the same rites to perform , the same occupation to carry forward to the utmost of one ' s iinivcr and ability , to promote that holy principle to which I have already adverted this day , of proclaiming ind striving to produce " peace on earth , goodwill towards men . " For myself , and brother Grand Officers , here present wn 0 " ° * bonour to permit me to be their
spokesman on such an occasion , 1 return you my sincere thanks , assuring you that this day will remain in my recollection so long as I live , as I am sure it will be in t ] ie jrs—to be one " that must ever be marked with red chalk . " ( Applause . ) The W . M ., in proposing " The Health of the Consecrating Officers , " said that it was no small thing when he
told the brethren that of all the Consecrating Officers he would have wished to hold the office and to be present at the time he was installed he could . not have selected five officers for whom he felt a deeper respect . There were no officers to whom he owed more in Masonry than he did to the five officers who had that day assisted in the consecration of the Sir Thomas White Lodge . Bro . Hervey was
so well known to the brethren and wherever Masonry was held under the English Constitution , or , he might say , under any ether Constitution Bro . Hervey ' s name was knoivn , and where it was known it was needless to say , respected to the utmost . He ( the W . M . ) deeply felt the kindness Bro . Hcr . cy had shown to him since the time that he ( the W . M . ) was a newly-raised M . M . Bro . Hervey had assisted and
taken an interest in lodges he ( the W . M . ) had belonged to , and had shown to him personally the most unvaried kindness . Bro . Dr . Cox he ( the W . M . ) owed in some measure an apology to , but at the same time he did not propose to render it ; as , although by some accident , he ( Bro . Cox ) was not aware that he would have to deliver an oration , he ( the W . M . ) could not but think
that it was somewhat of a happy mistake , as , had Bro . Cox studied what he had to say ever since the time he received his invitation , he could not have chosen more apt , fit , or impressive words than he had delivered . The brethren all appreciated what he did say , and they all thanked him from the bottom of their hearts . He ( tne W . M . ) would then pass on to his father in Masomy , Bro .
Murton , who had so kindly filled the office of S . W . hvery Mason who loved Masonry for Masonry ' s working liked llm . Murton ; they knew how indefatigable he had been and was at the only school of Masonry—the Lodge of Emulation—that school in which the ) had all worked in their time ( if they had not , the sooner they began the better ) . Bro . Robinson , the J . W . at the consecration , whom
he ( the W . M . ) had known so many years , was the highly esteemed and respected Treasurer of the Piince of Wales's Lodge . Bro . Robinson was so well known to all the breihren of the Craft that he ( the W . M . ) could only sincerely think him ; not a word which he ( the W . M . ) might say could in any way possibly add to his well known character as a Mason . He then passed to one who was not present
: it the tabic—to whom Masonry , indeed , owed much—Bro . Thomas Fenn—who , from the time he took office in Grand Lodge , had been an indefatigable worker . He ( the W . M . ) kit certain that if Sir Albert Woods was present he would say how much he appreciated Bro . Fenn ' s assistance , and acknowledge how much he owed to his assistance . Bro , Penn , although having another engagement , had , at great
personal inconvenience to himself , attended at the consecration of the Sir 'Thomas White Lodge . The kindness he had shown him ( the W . M . ) invariably from the commencement of his Masonic career had only been followed in this instance . What did they , as a lodge , not owe to 'he Consecrating Officers ? Those brethren hail attended ° n this most impressive and solemn occassion to launch
forth into life a new lodge with prospects of no one knew what before it . They had entrusted to the keeping of the founders the warrant that had heen granted by the Grand Master . The founders felt as deeply as Masons could feci the depth of the gratitude they owed the Consecrating Officers ; that they had done services that day to the lodge which he trusted would never be forgotten .
Bro . John Hervey , G . S ., in reply , said the feelings of the ° 'hcr Consecrating Officers , like his own , were that , in com-¦ a ff that day to assist in the consecration of the Sir Thomas "hite Lodge , they were simply performing a duty which ¦ - "glit to be undertaken by every man who was competent enough to undertake it , and that they ought not at any ('" ic to shirk the responsibility which devolved upon them 1 ! 1 "icir various situations . The other brethren who had
as--isted him felt with timsclf highly honoured by the com-I'l'nient paid to them by electing them honorary members ° ' 'be lodge , and he thought he might also say on their Pat ' as well as his own that they would look forward to filing to the lodge again to see how it was progressing ,
" see how its duties were performed , and to ascertain from l * sonal inspection how the woik was carried on . To •Uss from that which was personal to himself to J'nu-thing else , he would now do that which jj \ * much more congenial to his feelings than " "g of himself even , although he was asilea
' . vvith several members respected in the J *' and had done good service that evening . He / -hed now to propose for the brethren ' s acceptance the Hit cf " Succesa to the Sit Thomas While Ludgc . " I le
Consecration Of The Sir Thomas White Lodge, No. 1820.
thought that success was already assured , because when one looked how the lodge had been started , when one knew that in the Master ' s chair they had one who had already fulfilled the office in two other lo : lgcs , one of the most leading lodges of the day being one of them , the prince of Wales ' s , and one of the most comfortable lodges in the Craft , the St . Andrew ' s , he thought he might say
that the future of the lodge was secured under such management . Passing on then to the S . W ., they had their Bro . Rhys Williams , who had already passed the chair of'the Old Union , and who in that capacity fulfilled his duties in a manner to secure the happiness of the brethren and the well being of the lodge . The J . W ., Bro . Trollope , was a Past Provincial Grand Warden of Sussex ,
and of course he would not have attained that position without having worked hard for the Craft . Offering this toast to the brethren ' s notice , he ( Bro . Hervey ) was only performing the duties which devolved upon him as Consecrating Officer . In coupling the W . M . ' s name vvith the toast he might add that what he had already said would show that Bro . Grey was no new man , that he was not a
man who had not been trusted , but he was a man to whom the Sir Thomas White Lodge might look forward with confidence as one who would conduct their barque through all the shoals and difficulties to which a newly launched vesseL-was exposed , and who would do his best to insure every success and prosperity to the Sir 'Thomas White Lodge , No . 1820 , and he might say that the
brethren would drink it in 1820 port that had been pre . sented to the lodge by the W . M . of St . Andrew ' s Lodge , Bro . Forrester , to insure the success of the lodge . The W . M ., in reply , said : Brethren , I have now to return thanks for the toast that has just been proposed by Bro . Hervey , with which he couples my name . The toast was " Prosperity to Sir Thomas White Lodge . " How is
that prosperity to be assured but by each and every one of us in our respective offices both doing our own duties to the utmost of our power , and attempting to the utmost of cur ability to leave a good example to our successors . We hope and believe that many unborn Masons awaiting at the present moment to enter our fraternity will join our lodge . We know that in bringing Merchant Taylors into
the Craft we are making no mistake ; we know that we are bringing in those who have been good and true boys , those that we doubt not will in due course turn out true and good Masons . I know I am speaking for my brother officers , as well as for myself , when I say we intend , by God ' s help , to do the very best we can for the prosperity of the lodge and for the prosperity
of the Craft ; we have its interests at heart , and we mean to avail ourselves of the possession of the knowledge . Brethren , you were kind enough to couple my name , as the Master of the lodge , with this toast . It is no small position for a Mason to hold that of the first Mastership of a lodge . I feel deeply the importance of the trust placed in me . 1 feel how utterly inadequate I am to express to this meeting the feelings and the words
that should conic from this chair on such an important occasion as that on which we have this evening met , but whoever might fill this chair , nobody could more sincerely express the feelings that 1 now possess , the hope that this lodge may be a prosperous one . I hope and trust that it will be a credit and an honour to our great fraternity . Bro . 1 ltrvey , in the name of our lodge , and in the name of myself , I heartily thank you for your kind
expressions . Bro . J . C . Parkinson , P . G . D ., in responding to the toast of " 'The Visitors , " said although it is undoubtedly a great privilege , at the same time it is a very heavy responsibility to be called upon to speak on behalf of so distinguished , so brilliant , and on the whole so representative an assemblage as I now see before me . What can I possibly
say on their behalf ? Only that they , with myself , have entered most throughly and sympathetically into your feelings this evening , that we have shared with you your appreciation of the ceremony upstairs , that we have noticed with you that despite infirmity of years , and occasional ill health , our Bro . Hervey is so vigorous , so strong , so fully capable of rendering in its entirety the beauty of the
Masonic ritual . Were I to seek to gauge the hearts of the brethren whom I represent , I would venture for the moment to say that behind their enjoyment is a feeling of resentment against fate , that they too are not Merchant Taylors ; this has seemed an exceedingly hard thing to me this evening . Seeing and appreciating as I have done that result of all clique feeling , I should say the one that dates
from school boy days is the best , and it seems hard to me that I could not unite my deep love of Masonry with some reminiscence of schoolboy days , and that I do not , as members of this lodge do , belong to a lodge which recalls those happy , pleasant feelings of boys ; but wc are not like that gentleman who remained unmoved when the affecting charity sermon was preached , when every eye in the church
was wet , and who when he wasasked how it was he maintained his unrivalled and unequalled composure , answered , with unbroken calmness , " I do not belong to this parish , " for wc , thanks to the universality of Masonry , are able to sympathise and enjoy with you , to share your pleasures , we can appreciate and look forward to the triumphs I am sure this lodge is destined to achieve . Speaking in the
City , brethren , you arc so young as a lodge , and Freemasonry is so old , that I may perhaps be permitted if I quote from a speech I once heard delivered at an ancient company by a very eloquent prelate , the late Bishop of Winchester , who in returning thanks for the 1 louse of Lords said that it represented the past and the present , that
it maintained its freshness by absorbing into its ranks the foremost men of each generation , and so kept its vigour unimpaired . As he said , it combines that reverence for the past without which the present is a bubble , and it maintains that hold on the present without which the past is a ruin-like the bloom upon the cheek of the comely matron it speaks at once of the pictures of her youth and the
Consecration Of The Sir Thomas White Lodge, No. 1820.
dominion of her age . It had seemed to me this evening , through it may be a curious reflection , that I have shared in the pleasant pangs of parturition in taking part in the birth of a new lodge . The remaining toasts were then given , and the brethren
separated . Bros . Faulkner Leigh , J . Hodges , Walter Bolton , and Henry Parker entertained the brethren in the intervals between the toasts with some charming solo and part singing .
Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .
The monthly meeting of the Committee of this Institution was held on Wednesday , at Freemasons' Hall . Bro . Col . Creaton , Grand Treasurer , presided . The other brethren present were Bros . Raynham W . Stewart , P . G . D . ;• Richard Herve Giraud , P . G . D . ; James Percy Lcith , P . G . D . ; f ~> f TVtl .... T-U ^ — ^™ / -. > . T A T ? r t , IT T-. .-. t _ CGDilleyThomas Goode Farnfield Chas
. . , , J . A . , V . P ., . James Perceval , V . P ., A . H . Tattershall , Thomas Cubitt , P . G . P . ; Louis Stean , JohnG . Stevens , V . P ., James Kench , Assistant G . P . ; J . Newton , Dr . Jabez Hogg , P . G . P . ; J . M . Case , P . G . D . ; Lieut-Col . H . G . Somerville Burney , J . H . Leggott , V . P ., S . Rawson , P . Dist . G . M . China ; W . Hilton , W . Stephens , C . F . Hogard , and James Terry ( Secretary ) .
The Secretary reported the deaths of Bro . William Watson , of Sudbury , Bro . J . Willis , of London , and Mrs . M . Jenkins , of Devonport . He also reported the names of the successful candidates at the election of ifith of May last . The Chairman was then authorised to sign the necessary cheques , and the Committee adjourned .
Borough Of Portsmouth Freemasons' Hall And Club Company, Limited.
BOROUGH OF PORTSMOUTH FREEMASONS' HALL AND CLUB COMPANY , LIMITED .
This company , incorporated on the 17 th April last , promises to be the most successful undertaking in which the Freemasons is Portsmouth have ever embarked . The nominal capital is £ 3000 , in six hundred shares of £ 5
each , £ 2 a share is paid on allotment , and the remainder is to be paid in calls of £ 1 each , at intervals of not less than one month . This capital , with judicious management , should be sufficient to carry out the main object of the undertaking , i . e ., in providing suitable accommodation for the several Masonic lodges in Portsmouth , at a fair rental , so as to make the company commercially
successful by paying a moderate dividend to the shareholders . The lodge rooms will be available for the accommodation of lodges in April next ; and from the large and increasing support given to the company by the Craft in the borough , irrespective of the lodges to which they belong , will cause it to prove a lucrative investment , and strengthen the fraternal feeling already existing between the several
lodges in this locality . Some years since a joint Committee was appointed to consider a scheme for building a hall in which the several lodges could meet , but it was considered impract cable , and the idea was abandoned . Had a company been formed at that time in the same manner as the present venture , we doubt not , but that a considerable sum of money would have been saved by the
lodges , and the Masonic Charitable Institutions correspondingly benefited . The premises to be built at No . 79 , Commercial-road , Landport , for the accommodation of the Masonic Club about to be formed , will be a handsome building , and in keeping with the magnificent offices of the Gas Company at the corner of the block of buildings . Accommodation
will also be provided in this building for the Borough of Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce , and an entrance formed to lead to the lodge room in the rear . The foundation stone of this building will be laid in the course of a few weeks by His Worship the Mayor . The desirability of forming a Masonic Club for the Freemasons of the borough has been long apparent , and we doubt not but
that it will prove the most successful part of the undertaking . Considerable credit is due to the directorate for the admirable , judicious , and economical manner this company has been promoted , especially to the Chairman , His Worship the Mayor , Alderman William David King , J . P ., & c , and the Vice-Chairman , Mr . Councillor George Thomas
Cunningham , who have been indefatigable in their exertions to make the company a success . Some 400 shares have been taken in the short space of six weens , and the remaining 200 will doubtless be quickly disposed of . Those Freemasons who wish to indentify themselves with the company should apply at an early date to the Secretary , Mr . E . S . Main , St . Clair-terracc , Buckland , for the remaining shares .
Obituary.
Obituary .
BRO . CAPT . GEO . WATTSON . Wc regret to announce the death of Bro . Capt . Geo . Wattson , which occurred suddenly on the 8 th inst ., at his residence , " Eastbourne Villa , " Rochester . He was a most energetic and devoted Freemason , as the following will show : —He ranked as P . M . 1050 , P . P . G . R . Kent , P . Z . Chap . 20 , P . M . M . 6 9 , G . M . J . D ., and at the time' of death was W . M . M . of 237 , of which lodge he was the founder about four months since .
A . warrant has been granted for a new lodge at Shureliatu , to be called the Burrell Lodge , No . 1829 .