Provicial Grand Lodge Of Middlesex.

The PROV . G . MASTER , in proposing "The Deputy Prov . G . M . and the rest of the Prov . G . Officers , " said that although he had had pleasure . DreS enting other toasts , he felt the greatest pleasure in proposing this ' ne which was deserving the highest honour . They had a Dep . Prov . p jyi . who had served them for a considerable length of time zealously nd well , who was always ready to exert himself in every possible way , and ho was conversant with all the duties in a lodge from I . G . to W . M . Thpre was not a brother in any lodge in the province who could perform

those duties better than their Deputy Prov . G . M . He trusted the Prov . U . Officers would support him in the future as they had in the past . They had always pulled harmoniously together , and he hoped they would continue to do so , and to work for the benefit and prosperity of the province . Bro RAYMOND H . THRUPP , Dep . Prov . G . M ., in reply , returned

thanks for the reception accorded the toast . He was sure that with such an examp le at the head of the province it would ill become any Prov . G . Officer to do aught but his best to support him in carrying on the work . He was but expressing the wish of every brother when he said they trusted it would be in the very far future before their Prov . G . M . was severed from the province . Might it be many , many years before they ceased to be tnem

reigned over by Sir Brancis Burdett ! bo long as he reigneu over , so long would those whom he appointed to office support him in carrying out the well ruling and governing of the province . "The Visitors " having been given , the Tyler ' s toast closed the proceedings . . . for the occasion b

An excellent programme of music was arranged y Bro . A . J . Eyre , P . G . Org . Middx ., who was , unfortunately , unable to be present . However , the programme was admirably carried out by Bros . HerbeitSchartau ( who also presided at the pianoforte ) , E . Dalzell , Prov . G . Org ., H . Taylor , and H . Horscroft .

Consecration Of The Cator Lodge, No. 2266

CONSECRATION OF THE CATOR LODGE , NO . 2266

The consecration ceremony of this new lodge was held at the Railway Hotel , Beckenham , on Tuesday , the 3 rd inst . The Consecrating Officer , Bro . Col . Shadwell H . Gierke , G . Sec , was assisted" by Bros . J . West , P . G . D ., D . P . G . M . Surrey , acting as S . G . W . ; D . Rose , P . M ., acting as J . G . W . ; Rev . G . Weldon , P . G . C , acting as G . Chap . ; Fred . Hilton , P . M . P . Z ., acting as G . D . C ; and Bale , P . M ., acting as G . I . G .

, The founders are Bros . James Hill , P . M ., W . M . designate ; J . E , Fox , P . M ., S . W . designate ; R . C . Davis , J . W . designate ; W . H . Hornsby , C . W . Gribble , J . W . Newell , C . R . Scriven , J . C . Osterstock , H . Line , and L . V . D . Anley . The visitors present were : Bros . A . Rosentham , P . M . 1673 ; W . I . Hewett , VV . S . Renly , 1319 ; V . T . Murche " ,

P . M . 1963 , Sec . 1641 ; R . J . Voisey , P . M . 1329 , P . Z ., A . G . I . G . ( Mark ); Hon . H . VV . Venn , 2165 ; A . J . Shore , I . G . 165 S ; Hy . Sadler , G . Tyler ; C . Gooding 1329 ; Arthur Philbrick , R . S . Archbold , P . M . 2047 ; R . J . Vincent , P . M . 1963 ; Geo . Gill , W . M . 1963 ; G . Schofield , W : M . 2047 ; G . Smith , jun ., W . M . 21 S 2 ; G . Powell , P . M . 1185 , M . E . Z . j G . Carlton , 87 ; M . Rock , 2147 ; T . Lansbury , A . C . Payle , S 29 ; W . Jeffrey , S . D . 1622 ; R . Bukitt , S . D . 1692 ; J . Fryer , 179 !; J . King , W . M . 1692 ; J . Howard , J . W . ; Elverston , J . W . 1314 ; J . Sanders , Sec . 1692 ; J . H . Haworth , 1201 ; J . Cox , P . M . 165 S ; S . Bowen , 1851 ; C . Woods , 1 S 69 ; and others .

After entering in procession the Consecrating Officer took the chair and appointed his officers ' ( pro . tem . ) The lodge was opened , a hymn sung , and the Consecrating Officer explained to the brethren the object of the meeting . After the usual formalities the following oration was delivered by Bro . Rev . G . WELDON , P . G . C .:

Consecrating Master and brethren , —It is unnecessary that I should occupy your attention for more than a few minues while in compliance with the request of the Consecrating Master I put before you a few salient points connected with the nature and the principles of Freemasonry . Each new lodge that is enrolled amongst those already established affords an additional evidence of the fact that the advantages of Freemasonry are clearly recognised by those brethren who have prac ical experience with its moral

and social power amongst men . Exposed as we all are to the evtr-shifting changes and chances of this mortal life , it is a very great source of strength and comfort to meet congenial minds imbued with a fellow feeling for their fellow creatures in hours of gladness as well as grief—men who know how by personal experience to rejoice with them that do rejoice , and to weep with them that weep . The finest sentiment outside the pages of the Sacred Law that ever fell from the tongue of any human being is that

which has conferred earthly immortality upon the great pagan post of antiquity , when he made one of the principal actors in a play inscribed to the people of Athens in the public theatre exclaim "I am man , and I think nothing that belongs to my fellow-man forei gn to me . " No wonder that the whole assembly , as if struck by the instinct of a common humanity , rose to its feet , and for several minutes gave vent to loud and prolonged applause . It is indeed a noble sentiment , and in no other community

on earth does it receive a more practical illustration than among Freemasons . We do no pause to enquire what party of political representatives a brother Mason belongs , or to what particular administration of religion f t ? ^ u fbscribed his name . It is enough for us to know in the truest and best sense that he is a man and a brother . The tear of sympathy is shtd over his sorrows , and the Principles and precepts of Freemasonry would be very little better than a cold and

jormal system of proverbial philosophy if living examples taken from among the Brethren ot the Craft were wanting as practical illustrations of the moral lessons conveyed by our Masonic precepts . We point the world to our Charities . We ask where tnere are such annual returns for girls , and boys , and old men and women as we can hold P to mankind in token that our love for the brethren is not in word only , but in deed rat " ' - " Wedo more than that . We fearlessly assert that the distinctions of im an ? ' crles , which in the world outside our lints are separated from each other by

passable barriers , are in Masonry brought together , face to face , heart to heait , man . " ?? " •The chasm which so completely separates the members of the non-Masonic "Q from each other is successfully bridged over in our Society by the only method which n unite all sorts and conditions of men . That method is the power of brotherly love . n . rea S 3 nableness of this is transparent . We are each of us so constituted in our moral s . j ! '" at there are soft spots within us ; and the moment they are touched by the magic Pre svm Pathy , we yield at once to the gentle influences of its ' all-conquering sway . K . , ^ sonry does not aim at removing human distinctions in race , religion , or politics , uuilU 111 DUUllCl Uldll dll UI 1 LGI CUUG 3 Willi I / I Ul liai I 1 JT LC 11 U

| rp . * r---w »* UL UUU ^ . " LU coed J * " Part trom eacn other . No other society at present in the world has sucftame- ln ? ccom P '' shing this happy result . The history of Masonry has enthroned the wide ' •memory of men whose points ' of divergence in politics and in religion , though file en H ? - 'k ' > . ' ' lave consented to subordinate their private and personal feelings to 'hat it " principle of humanity . Such is the inherent virtue of human goodness uvtiiyxjtu ^ i \ j amawi uivu \ bubii utn \ L uiivu m ^ j \ . v / ini ^ ivLiiiri

' - " 6 Ilm ' t £ - ~ - ~ r » "' ug , y KJ . . 0 u ter w M 'tS e'e . ctr , cal affinities . This is the real secret of Masonic success . The What a ^ the inquisitive are desirous to know our secrets . What are our signs ? 'oundaf ° Ur WOr <^ s ? I £ they but knevv these they think they would have discovered the Quirer aft " ° n , wmcn our . mystic Temple has been raised . We may tell the anxious entime-hon A- seccet mysteries 01 our Order that our Society does not depend for its dried tech * •.. " ?" uence > n the world—for its power among men—upon any mere cut and hand ? » y ^ 'ties . They say , " Are you not known to each other by the shake of the recognitin i * ° some extent that is true . But it is only a small Jpart of our mutual non . it is the hand with the heart in . it that reveals the tcue Mason . It is the

Consecration Of The Cator Lodge, No. 2266

word fresh from the soiil , and beaming on the countenance , and so impressed upon our character as to be " one with our feelings and our powers , and rather part of us than ours . " It is this excites the sympathy of our fellow men . It is this that extends Freemasonry over the face of the earth , and by the consecration of another lodge marks the increased and increasing influence of the power of genuine human love .

The ceremony of consecration was very ably carried out , and then Bro . James Hill , P . M ., was installed into the chair of W . M . b y Bro . Colonel Shadwell H . Gierke , G . Sec . The W . M . invested his officers in the following order : Bros . J . Fox , P . M ., S . W . ; R . C . Davis , J . W . ; J . W . Newell

Sec . ( pro tern . ); C . W . Gribble , S . D . ; J . C . Osterstock , J . D . ; and C . Scriven , I . G ., leaving the remaining offices to be filled at the next meeting . After the customary addresses had been delivered by the GRAND SECRE - TARY , the W . M . made him a present of a founder ' s jewel , as a memento of the day ' s proceedings .

Bro . Colonel SHADWELL H . CLERKE accepted the same , and briefly replied . ( The jewel , which was much admired , was manufactured by Bro . George Kenning . ) On the proposition of the W . M ., Bro . HILL , P . M ., seconded by the S . W ., Bro . Fox , P . M ., the Consecrating Officers—Bros . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , G . Sec . ; West , D . P . G . M . Surrey ; Rev . G . Weldon , P . G . C . ; D . Rose , P . M . ; Hilton , P . M . ; and Bale , P . M ., Treas . 87—; vere unanimously elected honorary members of the lodge .

The brethren appreciated the honour very much ; and the GRAND SECRETARY expressed a hope that he might occasionally be able to avail himself of the opportunity thus given him of visiting the lodge . The W . MASTER presented the founder ' s jewel to each of the founders , remarking that he hoped it would be a mark of that love of heart , purity of mind , and rectitude of conduct which should actuate every member of the Cator Lodge .

A list of the names of eight joining members and 16 candidates for initiation having been received , the lodge was closed . After the banquet , which was excellently served by Bro . W . H . Hornsby ,

The VV . MASTER gave " The Qneen and the Craft , " which , he said , was always well received among Masons . Every one loved the Queen , and sympathised with her in . the great trial that had lately fallen upon her . She had their sympathy , and they looked forward to the time when she should have brighter days .

The WORSHIPFUL MASTER next gave "The Health of the M . W . G . M ., H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , " and said that all Masons knew the great interest his Royal Highness took in Masonic ceremonies and secrets . He ¦ had presided over the Grand Lodge with great success in the past , and they hoped he might long be spared to carry on the good work .

The toast of " The M . W . Pro G . M ., R . W . D . G . M ., and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " was next given . The WORSHIPFUL MASTER said that all the Grand Officers were not only good and worthy members of the Grand Lodge , but they were also sympathetic and kind to those who . came to them for advice . He had been much in contact with them of late , with regard to the business of the formation ol the Cator Lodge , and had always been exceedingly well received . As they had not much time to spare he would , however , be brief in praising them .

In reply , Bro . Rev . G . WELDON , P . G . C , said that the Grand Officers present were represented by the mystic number three . As for that lod ge there were no Past Grand Officers , and he shouldjnot reply on their behalf . Thus he was relieved of much responsibility . He would , however , speak of the present . They were very happy now , and he hoped they might long enjoy that happiness . Dr . Brenton said that although he felt very dull at

the beginning of a Masonic dinner , the electrical affinities of such a meeting made him feel truly happy . He related a curious incident which he had met with in China . Whenever a Chinaman passed a happy day he marked it down with red chalk . On passing through a cemetery he noticed the tombstone of a man who had died , upwards of 80 years of age . Upon reading the inscription , however , he found the following : "Aged 12 years

and four months . " He inquired how that could be , and was informed that , after the man ' s death , his relatives had carefully totalled the number of days marked with red chalk , to the exclusion of all others , and thus found that he had spent 12 years and lour months of happy days . This they considered his true age . Bro . Weldon advised all present to make a good mark beside the day now spent , and in thanking them , trusted all would have need of plenty of red chalk .

The WORSHIPFUL MASTER proposed " The Consecrating Officers , " and said that without their aid there would have been no Cator Lodge held on that day . He trusted that the lodge would fulfil all the wishes of those who had shown so much kindness in coming to consecrate it . He was sorry that instead of three Grand Officers there were not ten times three present ,

Bro . Col . SHADWELL H . CLERKE , G . Sec , thanked the brethren for the kind fraternal reception of the toast . It had given him great pleasure to come to help to start the new work . He was more or less accustomed to the ceremony , and found that the more times he took part in it the more he liked it and the easier it became . The Grand Officers present were not numerous , for unfortunately Bros . Frank Richardson , P . G . D ., and F . A .

Philbrick , Q . C ., G . R ., were unavoidably absent . They had been , however , very ably assisted by good and worthy brethren in Bros . D . Rose , as J . W . ; F . Hilton , as D . C ; and Bale , as I . G . These brethren had undertaken to serve at a moment ' s notice , and had done their work in a very able and praiseworthy manner . His two colleagues and himself had been very fortunate in being thus supported . He again thanked the brethren , and proposed "The Health of the Worshipful Master , " and

said that Bro . Hill had not entered Masonry very young , but he had , like many others , made up for this by the zeal and energy he had thrown into the work . He had come to the front rapidly , and he believed deservedly , being a P . M . of a lodge , and was now working on fast in a chapter . The duty of first Master of a lodge was very onerous , for nothing must be rushed through , and great care would be always required to make things go respectably and quietly . He congratulated the founders upon their selection , and believed they would never regret it .

In reply Bro . HILL , P . M ., W . M ., said he felt like a father did on the birth of a new child . His responsibility was as great as that of a father , for as W . M . he would have to direct and train the young lodge until it got a firm footing . The first three or four years would settle the future of

a lodge . He told the Indian legend of the boy and the fly which daily settled on his plate . This fly grew and grew till it became a monster and destroyed the boy . It would be as necessary to keep out any sign of illwill from the lodge , or a similar result might be expected . The members must not forget that Charity was the very foundation of Masonry , and he