Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ar00800
MONTAGUE GUEST LODGE ( No . 1900 ) . — The installation meeting of this lodge was held on Wednesday evening , at the inns of Court Hotel , Lincoln ' s Inn-( ields , where a very large and distinguished company assembled to witness the performance of the ceremony . In addition to the W . M ., Bro . Dean , the brethren present were Bros . Travers , P . M . ; G . P . Festa , S . W . ; F . R . W . Hedges , J . W . ; J . D . Collier , P . M ., Sec . ; Hubert
J . Capon , S . D . ; H . Slyman , J . D . ; Samuel Brooks , D . C ; W . H . Gardner , I . G . ; VV . H . Staff , Org . ; Edmund M . Doble , Stwd . ; Col . A . A . Stevenson , P . G . M . Canada ; General Brownrigg , P . G . M . Surrey ; Hon . Justice Prinsep , Dist . G . M . Bengal ; Rev . C . W . Arnold , P . G . Chap ., Dep . G . M . Surrey ; Rev . J . Studholme Brownrigg , P . G . Chap ., D . P . G . M . Berks and Bucks ; Sir John B . Monckton , Pres . Board Gen . Purposes ; Colonel
Shadwell H . Clerke , G . Sec ; J . M . P . Montagu , P . G . D ., D . P . G . M . Dorset ; Capt . N . G . Philips , P . G . D . ; Raynham W . Stewart , P . G . D . ; Raphael Costa , P . G D . ; Peter de Lande Long , P . G . D . ; W . Clarke , P . G . P . ; P . Cubitt , P . G . P . ; C . A . Cottebrune , P . G . P . ; E . Letchworth , P . G . S . ; E . Baxter , P . G . S . ; Edgar Bo . vyer , P . G . S . W . Herts ; James Terry , P . G . S . W . Herts , Sec Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution ; H . A . Dubois , P . P . G . W . Middlesex ;
J . Mason , P . P . G . D . Middlesex ; Captain Adolphus Nicols , P . G . Superintendent of Works Punjab , W . M . 1974 ; S . M . Lazarus , P . P . G . W . Wilts ; T . B . Brockbank , P . P . G . D . Lancaster ; W . Lake , P . P . G . Reg . Cornwall ; T . W . Walford , 771 ; Frederick Hunt , iSS ; A . E . Gladwell , P . M . 172 ; W . F . Larkin , 209 : John Wilson P . M . 209 ; J . B . Docker , P . M . 1 GS 7 ; Henry Perks . I . G . 229 ; E . W . Shelton , P . M . 1366 ; Louis Byrett , P . M . 1 S 2 S ;
W . W . Morgan , Sec . 211 ; R . Barton , 771 ; Ii . f'arwig , P . M . 1 S 0 ; C . Graham , S . D . S 94 ; J . Bazalgette , 1491 ; E . B . Cox , 1563 ; S . W . Schartau , 1549 ; E . Moss , W . M . 1927 ; Albert James , 1706 ; J . E . Shand , P . M ., Treas . City of Westminster Lodge ; G . Read , P . M . 511 ; and H . Massey , P . M . 619 , W . M . 192 S ( Freemason ) . Shortly after the lodge had been opened , and the minutes of the former meeting confirmed , Bro . Travers , P . M .,
presented to the W . M ., Bro . G . P . Festa , S . W ., who had been unanimously elected Worshipful Master of the lodge for the year ensuing , to receive at the hands of Bro . Dean the benefit of installation . Bro . Dean then proceeded with the ceremony , and in the . presence of forty Installed Masters placed Bro . Festa in the Master's chair of the Montague Guest Lodge . After having invested Bro . Dean as I . P . M ., and received the congratulations of the Masters ,
and the customary salutations from the brethren of the Three Degrees , Bro . Festa appointed and invested the following brethren as his officers for the year : Bros . F . R . W . Hedges , S . W . ; H . J . Capon , J . W . ; W . H . Dean , l . P . M ., Treasurer ; J . D . Collier , P . M ., Secretary ; Henry Slyman , S . D . ; W . H . Gardener , J . D . ; Samuel Brooks , P . M ., I . G . ; E . N . Doble , M . C ; W . H . Staff , Organist ; C . M . Tate , W . S . ; and B . Banks , Tyler .
Bro . Dean then delivered the addresses , and , on concluding the ceremony , received the hearty congratulations of the brethren on the admirable way in which he had installed Bro . Festa . It is , however , but fair to say that the performance was a fitting completion of a year's excellent working of the lodge by Bro . Dean . Bro . Edward Lyon Shelton , P . M . 13 G 6 , was elected a joining member , after which Bro . Festa presented in the name of the lodge to Bro .
Dean a magnificent gold Past Master ' s jewel and a Past Master ' s collar and massive silver jewel . On both the jewels was the following inscription : " Presented by the Montague Guest Lodge , No . 1900 , to W . Bro . W . H . Dean , P . M . 417 , P . P . G . S . B . Dorset , as a mark of esteem and in recognition of the courteous manner in which he presided over them as first W . M . and founder . October nth , 18 S 2 . "
The jewels were manufactured by Bro . George Kenning , and are beautiful specimens of jewellers' work . Bro . Dean , in acknowledgment , said he scarcely knew how to return thanks for this very handsome jewel and Past Master ' s collar and jewel which the lodge had given him as a mark of their esteem and approbation , but he could assure the brethren that he should ever wear it with pride and pleasure , —with pride , as a memorial of his having
been the first Master and one of the foundersof this lodge ; and with pleasure , as he felt he had given the brethren satisfaction during his year of office . Before the lodge was closed , Bro . Collier , P . M . and Sec , read the two following letters which had been received in acknowledgment of the vote of congratulation to Her Majesty on her escape from attempted assassination : — " 3 Saville-row , W ., May 1 st , 18 S 2 .
, " Dear Sirand Brother , —I enclose the answer from Gen . Sir Henry Ponsonby on the part of the Queen , and the copy of the resolution passed by the Montague Guest Lodge , No . 1900 , which , at the request of the brethren , I forwarded to Windsor to be laid before Her Majesty , congratulating her on her Providential escape . —1 am , Dear Sir and Brother , yours faithfully and fraternally , " MONTAGUE GUEST .
" To the Secretary , Montague Guest Lodge , No . 1900 , Inns of Court Hotel . " "Windsor Castle , April zGth , 1 SS 2 . " My dear Guest , —1 am commanded by the Queen to request that you will convey to the members of the Montague Guest Lodge Her Majesty ' s thanks for the kind and loyal expressions contained in their resolution , a copy of which you have forwarded for the Queen . " Yours sincerely , "HENRY PONSONHY . "Montague Guest , Esq . "
On the motion of Bro . Dean , seconded by Bro . Collier , this letter was ordered to be entered on the lodge minutes . An initiate was proposed , and the lodge was then closed . A splendid banquet was afterwards served in the Grand I fall , and the usual toasts were subsequently proposed . The W . M . proposed "The Oueen and the Craft , " "The M . W . G . M ., " " The Pro and " Deputy Grand Masters , " & c , very briefly , but in giving the last of these toasts , named each of the Grand Officers present , and added that it would be difficult for him to expound their
qualifications . Gen . Brownrigg , Prov . G . M . Surrey , in reply , said he always thought that this toast , with which the W . M . had done him the honour to couple his name , was a most difficult one to respond to , because there was nothing that he or anybody could say in reply to it which the brethren must not have heard " usque ad nauseam . " It was very difficult to say anything new of the Grand Officers present and past ; and he thought they had great responsibility , because it must be remembered that
Ar00801
they were permanent members of Grand Lodge , anp therefore to a certain extent the proceedings of the Grand Lodge were governed by them , and they had an influence there which he thought the Craft acknowledged generally . In fact , the acknowledgment of that responsibility and of that status was always shown by the kind reception given to this toast . On these occasions the toast of " The Grand Officers " was always warmly received . Now , he believed
the Grand Officers were worthy of the confidence placed in them . They certainly did their best to further the interests of the Order ; but if there was one thing which was more dear to them than another it was seeing a young lodge prospering in the way the Montague Guest Lodge was prospering . Comparing it with natural events , he should say that this lodge was Sjust weaned . It had parted from its first cherisher and nourisher , and was now
beginning to be able to do without the nurse it had at starting . What he had seen that evening showed how admirably well the lodge had been founded , and that there was every prospect that it would be a distinguished lodge in the Craft . Bro . Dean , l . P . M ., proposed "The W . M . " He said he proposed the toast with a very great deal of pleasure , and very little was required of him to recommend the toast
to the brethren . What he could say truthfullyof the W . M . was , from what he knew of him , that he was a most zealous and efficient Mason , and he could also add that he was a most charitable Mason . When he said this he only had to mention that three of the founders of the lodge who represented the Charities this year had taken up a collective sum of £ 500 , and of that £ 500 neatly two-thirds had been taken up by the present W . M . That spoke well for his charity .
As regarded his efficiency , he ( Bro . Dean ) could fully testify . He had known him some years in Freemasonry ; he had met him in several lodges , and knew how ably and Well he did his work Indeed , he might say , his working of the ritual was perfect . As to his zeal , he did not think any one could testify much better than he ( Bro . Dean ) . The lodge was fortunate in having secured the services of their highly esteemed Bro .
Montague Guest for obtaining the warrant for the lodge . Within a very short time of the application being sent in , the warrant was granted . Since obtaining the warrant , there had been a great amount of preliminary work to do . In that preliminary work no one could have been supported better than himself ( Bro . Dean ) by the W . M ., who had been most indefatigable from the granting of the warrant until now . The brethren could not have selected a better
Master , it would be impossible ; and he sincerely trusted that the W . M . ' s health would be spared him during his year ot office to enable him to carry out the duties of the chair , which he ( Bro . Dean ) felt positive the W . M . would do , with credit to himself and satisfaction to all the brethren . The W . M ., in response , said he could not put into words what his heart felt at the present moment . He was afraid he should make a very long speech if he did so ; and if he
condensed all he wished to say they would have something like one of those meat sausages which , although it might contain the essence of two or three mutton chops , would be none the less disappointing . This , however , he might say , that since he had had the honour of belonging to this honourable Order he had endeavoured to carry on his duty fearlesly , and strictly to practise those virtues laid down at his initiation . He need scarcely say that the past would be
an incentive to his future to do what was right . In proposing " The Health of the Installing Master , " the W . M . said , that although his deficiency in eloquence prevented him from saying what he would like , yet what the brethren had seen that evening of the Installing Master would enable them to say he was a perfect Mason . They had seen how he started the lodge and the progress it had made ; they had seen the way in
which the W . M . worked the ritual , and how he had performed the installation ceremony that evening . Having been a co-worker with him in the formation of the lodge , he was fully aware of the pains and trouble Bro . Dean had taken , and he was quite sure that when the jewel he now wore upon his breast was voted in the lodge , it was the unanimous intention of the brethren to show him honour for what he had done .
Bro . Dean , in reply , assured the brethren that his work this year had been truly a labour of love in the cause of Freemasonry . From the commencement of the lodge , as he had before stated , he had the assistance of not only the present W . M . but of all the founders of the lodge , in doing what they possibly could for its benefit , and not only in the formation of the lodge , but as its officers they had worked . It had been to him , therefore , a very great
pleasure . Not only had the W . M . been doing everything he could to make matters go right and successfully , but from the highest to the lowest officer they had each—one and all—done their duty admirably in the formation and in the general working of the lodge . It was all very well for a Master to say that he could do all that was requisite in the lodge , but it was only with the assistance of his officers that it was possible for
him to do it with credit and satisfaction . In that respect he had been extremely fortunate , and he could only thank the brethren , the officers and founders of the lodge , and also the officers and brethren generally , for the very kind assistance they had given him , and for the way they had helped him in all matters he had brought forward ; they had supported him in every possible way , and he was only too pleased and proud to say that during the past year they
had not had the slightest difference of opinion . The lodge had worked most admirably ; one and all had taken an interest in it ; each one had studied to do his duty individually , and they had carried it out to the great satisfaction of every one . The success of the lodge naturally followed ; but it had followed beyond the expectations of the founders when they proposed it . They had initiated eleven in the lodge , and had had several
joining members . All were good , true , and worthy brethren , he was proud to say—men who should be admitted to Freemasonry . It was the duty of lodges to be very particular as to whom they admitted . In conclusion , Bro . Dean remarked that the success of the lodge had exceeded his anticipations , and had been more than he had thought or dreamt of .
The W . M . next proposed "The Visitors , " of whom he read the list , and called upon Bro . Col . Stevenson , Past Grand Master of Canada , to reply . Col . Stevenson , in reply , said he did not desire that the brethren should accept him as a fair specimen of Canadian Masons , for this particular reason , which would commend itself to their judgment—he was sure that they had within
Ar00802
that room two magnificent specimens of Canadian Masons Bros . General Brownrigg and j . M . P . Montagu . Both these brethren were made in Canada ; and he believed the brethren would admit that even the Grand Lodge of England owed something to that benighted country , inasmuch as it had given it tsvo such useful members . Following the example which had been set of making short speeches , he would say he was exceedingly grateful for the courtesy and
the kind and fraternal feeling which had been shown him during the past two or three days that he had been within this great city ; and it had occurred to him that if he could only spare the time ( and people who lived in such a great city believed that visitors from abroad could spare the time ) he would experience the same hospitality that people going to America would experience . Now , his stay was a very limited one , but he had enjoyed himself
most thoroughly . It was a most fortunate thing for him to have met the Grand Secretary , Colonel Shadwell H . Clerke , through whom he had experienced great hospitality . He had experienced this at Golden-square , and now he had experienced it again in the Montague Guest Lodge . For such a young lodge it was a marvel , and it had presented a most creditable spectacle that day . He had admired , as everybody else must have admired , the verv
efficient manner in which everything was done in the lodge . He thought they had made a splendid selection in their choice ofa W . M ., who had exhibited great judgment in his choice of officers . He should look with considerable interest upon the working of No . 1900 . They had no such high number as that in Canada . The people there had more to do in clearing the forest , sowing the seed and reaping the harvest , than in learning Freemasonry . Still
there were parts here and there where Freemasonry was cultivated , and when England , Scotland and Ireland had learned that it was their duty to send people out there instead of to foreign nations , where the feeling was not always in favour of this country , he had no doubt they would be able in Canada to build it up , and on the same principles has had been witnessed that evening . He had enjoyed himself very much in the lodge ;
he had also enjoyed himself very much at the banquet table ; and he had also very much enjoyed the music . After a few remarks on the programme , the distinguished brother said the brethren must be cautious as to whom they admitted into the Order ; that number was not to be so much accounted as quality ; and that if the privilege of the ballot-box was not carefully exercised they might get inferior members into the Order , who would be found to be
like one bad apple in a barrel of fruit . The W . M . next proposed " The Charities . " The fundamental object of Freemasonry was charity . Charity was the giving to those who were in want ; but there was another Kind of charity which some time or other they were called upon to practice—charity of heart . The
second they had been called upon in this lodge to practice , and he hoped that they would continue to do so ; that they would have brotherly love still in them , and spread it wherever they could . There was another brother present ( Bro . Terry ) who could expound the other charity better than he could , and he should call on him to respond to this toast .
Bro . James 1 erry , in response , said he ventured to think that in that lodge and on that night this was one of the most appropriate toasts that could possibly have been given , because inaugurating , as it was , the W . M . 's year of office . The W . M . commenced with a recognition of those Institutions which were a comfort and solace of persons in declining years , and the assistance of those of the rising generation . The W . M . ' s kindness of heart was not
confined to those guests who were around the table , because he was at that moment entertaining the inmates or the Benevolent Institution at Croydon in commemoration of his ( the W . M . 's ) accession to the chair of the Montague Guest Lodge . He ( Bro . Terry ) had just received a telegram from Croydon stating that the inmates of the Institution had enthusiastically drank the W . M . ' s health , and expressed their wishes for his prosperity and that of his lodr / e . When
the brethren heard from P . M . Dean that the amount of money taken up from this lodge to the three Institutions this year was £ 500 , it spoke well for the kindness of heart of those who had taken the position of Stewards , and those who had supported them . The sum of £ 500 from a new lodge in the course of twelve months was no inconsiderable amount . In provinces £ 500 sometimes was not sent up in twelve months ; and , therefore , it was something
that a lodge might be proud of . But was there not a cause for it ? Was not the cause that the lodge had as one of its officers the Secretary of one of those Institutions of which he had spoken ? He hoped that the coming year would be as prosperous as the past to the lodge , and equally successful to the Institution of which he ( Bro . Terry ) was Secretary . The lodge had present that evening a brother who had kindly consented to
preside at the festival of the Benevolent Institution in February , 1 SS 3 , the R . W . Prov . G . M . for Surrey , and it was to be hoped that the Montague Guest Lodge , having had the honour of his presence that evening , would kindly and considerately think they owed him something for that honour , and would give the name of a Steward for the festival . Nothing would be a more graceful recognition of the honour conferred by the presence of that distinguished soldier . If also they accompanied that Stewardship with a
gift of notes and cheques and gold , the General would highly esteem it . What the Institutions were doing mi ght be seen in the newspapers . He would thank this lodge for what it had done in the past and hope that it might continue so to do in the future ; that the brethren who were coming into it would follow the example so well set by the W . M . and the other founders of the Lodge ; and their feelings might still remain in the hearts of the other members ; and that those who would follow might emulate the example set in 18 S 1 and 1 SS 2 , when the Montague Guest Lodge
ame into existence . The W . M . next proposed "The Treasurer and Secretary . " There had been so much said about Bro . Dean that evening that he was at a loss what more to say about him . He had worked heartily in the lodge as W . M ., and if he carried out the duties of Treasurer as well the lodge would have every reason to be satisfied . As to Bro . Collier , the
Secretary , he was second to none . He was indefatigable , courteous , and always ready at any call , —in fact , he would do all he could to please everyone . Bro . Dean , l . P . M . and Treasurer , said it was an honour to follow so distinguished a Mason as Bro . Montague Guest , in the office of Treasurer . It was pleasing to nim to find that the brethren placed their trust in him , and it
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ar00800
MONTAGUE GUEST LODGE ( No . 1900 ) . — The installation meeting of this lodge was held on Wednesday evening , at the inns of Court Hotel , Lincoln ' s Inn-( ields , where a very large and distinguished company assembled to witness the performance of the ceremony . In addition to the W . M ., Bro . Dean , the brethren present were Bros . Travers , P . M . ; G . P . Festa , S . W . ; F . R . W . Hedges , J . W . ; J . D . Collier , P . M ., Sec . ; Hubert
J . Capon , S . D . ; H . Slyman , J . D . ; Samuel Brooks , D . C ; W . H . Gardner , I . G . ; VV . H . Staff , Org . ; Edmund M . Doble , Stwd . ; Col . A . A . Stevenson , P . G . M . Canada ; General Brownrigg , P . G . M . Surrey ; Hon . Justice Prinsep , Dist . G . M . Bengal ; Rev . C . W . Arnold , P . G . Chap ., Dep . G . M . Surrey ; Rev . J . Studholme Brownrigg , P . G . Chap ., D . P . G . M . Berks and Bucks ; Sir John B . Monckton , Pres . Board Gen . Purposes ; Colonel
Shadwell H . Clerke , G . Sec ; J . M . P . Montagu , P . G . D ., D . P . G . M . Dorset ; Capt . N . G . Philips , P . G . D . ; Raynham W . Stewart , P . G . D . ; Raphael Costa , P . G D . ; Peter de Lande Long , P . G . D . ; W . Clarke , P . G . P . ; P . Cubitt , P . G . P . ; C . A . Cottebrune , P . G . P . ; E . Letchworth , P . G . S . ; E . Baxter , P . G . S . ; Edgar Bo . vyer , P . G . S . W . Herts ; James Terry , P . G . S . W . Herts , Sec Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution ; H . A . Dubois , P . P . G . W . Middlesex ;
J . Mason , P . P . G . D . Middlesex ; Captain Adolphus Nicols , P . G . Superintendent of Works Punjab , W . M . 1974 ; S . M . Lazarus , P . P . G . W . Wilts ; T . B . Brockbank , P . P . G . D . Lancaster ; W . Lake , P . P . G . Reg . Cornwall ; T . W . Walford , 771 ; Frederick Hunt , iSS ; A . E . Gladwell , P . M . 172 ; W . F . Larkin , 209 : John Wilson P . M . 209 ; J . B . Docker , P . M . 1 GS 7 ; Henry Perks . I . G . 229 ; E . W . Shelton , P . M . 1366 ; Louis Byrett , P . M . 1 S 2 S ;
W . W . Morgan , Sec . 211 ; R . Barton , 771 ; Ii . f'arwig , P . M . 1 S 0 ; C . Graham , S . D . S 94 ; J . Bazalgette , 1491 ; E . B . Cox , 1563 ; S . W . Schartau , 1549 ; E . Moss , W . M . 1927 ; Albert James , 1706 ; J . E . Shand , P . M ., Treas . City of Westminster Lodge ; G . Read , P . M . 511 ; and H . Massey , P . M . 619 , W . M . 192 S ( Freemason ) . Shortly after the lodge had been opened , and the minutes of the former meeting confirmed , Bro . Travers , P . M .,
presented to the W . M ., Bro . G . P . Festa , S . W ., who had been unanimously elected Worshipful Master of the lodge for the year ensuing , to receive at the hands of Bro . Dean the benefit of installation . Bro . Dean then proceeded with the ceremony , and in the . presence of forty Installed Masters placed Bro . Festa in the Master's chair of the Montague Guest Lodge . After having invested Bro . Dean as I . P . M ., and received the congratulations of the Masters ,
and the customary salutations from the brethren of the Three Degrees , Bro . Festa appointed and invested the following brethren as his officers for the year : Bros . F . R . W . Hedges , S . W . ; H . J . Capon , J . W . ; W . H . Dean , l . P . M ., Treasurer ; J . D . Collier , P . M ., Secretary ; Henry Slyman , S . D . ; W . H . Gardener , J . D . ; Samuel Brooks , P . M ., I . G . ; E . N . Doble , M . C ; W . H . Staff , Organist ; C . M . Tate , W . S . ; and B . Banks , Tyler .
Bro . Dean then delivered the addresses , and , on concluding the ceremony , received the hearty congratulations of the brethren on the admirable way in which he had installed Bro . Festa . It is , however , but fair to say that the performance was a fitting completion of a year's excellent working of the lodge by Bro . Dean . Bro . Edward Lyon Shelton , P . M . 13 G 6 , was elected a joining member , after which Bro . Festa presented in the name of the lodge to Bro .
Dean a magnificent gold Past Master ' s jewel and a Past Master ' s collar and massive silver jewel . On both the jewels was the following inscription : " Presented by the Montague Guest Lodge , No . 1900 , to W . Bro . W . H . Dean , P . M . 417 , P . P . G . S . B . Dorset , as a mark of esteem and in recognition of the courteous manner in which he presided over them as first W . M . and founder . October nth , 18 S 2 . "
The jewels were manufactured by Bro . George Kenning , and are beautiful specimens of jewellers' work . Bro . Dean , in acknowledgment , said he scarcely knew how to return thanks for this very handsome jewel and Past Master ' s collar and jewel which the lodge had given him as a mark of their esteem and approbation , but he could assure the brethren that he should ever wear it with pride and pleasure , —with pride , as a memorial of his having
been the first Master and one of the foundersof this lodge ; and with pleasure , as he felt he had given the brethren satisfaction during his year of office . Before the lodge was closed , Bro . Collier , P . M . and Sec , read the two following letters which had been received in acknowledgment of the vote of congratulation to Her Majesty on her escape from attempted assassination : — " 3 Saville-row , W ., May 1 st , 18 S 2 .
, " Dear Sirand Brother , —I enclose the answer from Gen . Sir Henry Ponsonby on the part of the Queen , and the copy of the resolution passed by the Montague Guest Lodge , No . 1900 , which , at the request of the brethren , I forwarded to Windsor to be laid before Her Majesty , congratulating her on her Providential escape . —1 am , Dear Sir and Brother , yours faithfully and fraternally , " MONTAGUE GUEST .
" To the Secretary , Montague Guest Lodge , No . 1900 , Inns of Court Hotel . " "Windsor Castle , April zGth , 1 SS 2 . " My dear Guest , —1 am commanded by the Queen to request that you will convey to the members of the Montague Guest Lodge Her Majesty ' s thanks for the kind and loyal expressions contained in their resolution , a copy of which you have forwarded for the Queen . " Yours sincerely , "HENRY PONSONHY . "Montague Guest , Esq . "
On the motion of Bro . Dean , seconded by Bro . Collier , this letter was ordered to be entered on the lodge minutes . An initiate was proposed , and the lodge was then closed . A splendid banquet was afterwards served in the Grand I fall , and the usual toasts were subsequently proposed . The W . M . proposed "The Oueen and the Craft , " "The M . W . G . M ., " " The Pro and " Deputy Grand Masters , " & c , very briefly , but in giving the last of these toasts , named each of the Grand Officers present , and added that it would be difficult for him to expound their
qualifications . Gen . Brownrigg , Prov . G . M . Surrey , in reply , said he always thought that this toast , with which the W . M . had done him the honour to couple his name , was a most difficult one to respond to , because there was nothing that he or anybody could say in reply to it which the brethren must not have heard " usque ad nauseam . " It was very difficult to say anything new of the Grand Officers present and past ; and he thought they had great responsibility , because it must be remembered that
Ar00801
they were permanent members of Grand Lodge , anp therefore to a certain extent the proceedings of the Grand Lodge were governed by them , and they had an influence there which he thought the Craft acknowledged generally . In fact , the acknowledgment of that responsibility and of that status was always shown by the kind reception given to this toast . On these occasions the toast of " The Grand Officers " was always warmly received . Now , he believed
the Grand Officers were worthy of the confidence placed in them . They certainly did their best to further the interests of the Order ; but if there was one thing which was more dear to them than another it was seeing a young lodge prospering in the way the Montague Guest Lodge was prospering . Comparing it with natural events , he should say that this lodge was Sjust weaned . It had parted from its first cherisher and nourisher , and was now
beginning to be able to do without the nurse it had at starting . What he had seen that evening showed how admirably well the lodge had been founded , and that there was every prospect that it would be a distinguished lodge in the Craft . Bro . Dean , l . P . M ., proposed "The W . M . " He said he proposed the toast with a very great deal of pleasure , and very little was required of him to recommend the toast
to the brethren . What he could say truthfullyof the W . M . was , from what he knew of him , that he was a most zealous and efficient Mason , and he could also add that he was a most charitable Mason . When he said this he only had to mention that three of the founders of the lodge who represented the Charities this year had taken up a collective sum of £ 500 , and of that £ 500 neatly two-thirds had been taken up by the present W . M . That spoke well for his charity .
As regarded his efficiency , he ( Bro . Dean ) could fully testify . He had known him some years in Freemasonry ; he had met him in several lodges , and knew how ably and Well he did his work Indeed , he might say , his working of the ritual was perfect . As to his zeal , he did not think any one could testify much better than he ( Bro . Dean ) . The lodge was fortunate in having secured the services of their highly esteemed Bro .
Montague Guest for obtaining the warrant for the lodge . Within a very short time of the application being sent in , the warrant was granted . Since obtaining the warrant , there had been a great amount of preliminary work to do . In that preliminary work no one could have been supported better than himself ( Bro . Dean ) by the W . M ., who had been most indefatigable from the granting of the warrant until now . The brethren could not have selected a better
Master , it would be impossible ; and he sincerely trusted that the W . M . ' s health would be spared him during his year ot office to enable him to carry out the duties of the chair , which he ( Bro . Dean ) felt positive the W . M . would do , with credit to himself and satisfaction to all the brethren . The W . M ., in response , said he could not put into words what his heart felt at the present moment . He was afraid he should make a very long speech if he did so ; and if he
condensed all he wished to say they would have something like one of those meat sausages which , although it might contain the essence of two or three mutton chops , would be none the less disappointing . This , however , he might say , that since he had had the honour of belonging to this honourable Order he had endeavoured to carry on his duty fearlesly , and strictly to practise those virtues laid down at his initiation . He need scarcely say that the past would be
an incentive to his future to do what was right . In proposing " The Health of the Installing Master , " the W . M . said , that although his deficiency in eloquence prevented him from saying what he would like , yet what the brethren had seen that evening of the Installing Master would enable them to say he was a perfect Mason . They had seen how he started the lodge and the progress it had made ; they had seen the way in
which the W . M . worked the ritual , and how he had performed the installation ceremony that evening . Having been a co-worker with him in the formation of the lodge , he was fully aware of the pains and trouble Bro . Dean had taken , and he was quite sure that when the jewel he now wore upon his breast was voted in the lodge , it was the unanimous intention of the brethren to show him honour for what he had done .
Bro . Dean , in reply , assured the brethren that his work this year had been truly a labour of love in the cause of Freemasonry . From the commencement of the lodge , as he had before stated , he had the assistance of not only the present W . M . but of all the founders of the lodge , in doing what they possibly could for its benefit , and not only in the formation of the lodge , but as its officers they had worked . It had been to him , therefore , a very great
pleasure . Not only had the W . M . been doing everything he could to make matters go right and successfully , but from the highest to the lowest officer they had each—one and all—done their duty admirably in the formation and in the general working of the lodge . It was all very well for a Master to say that he could do all that was requisite in the lodge , but it was only with the assistance of his officers that it was possible for
him to do it with credit and satisfaction . In that respect he had been extremely fortunate , and he could only thank the brethren , the officers and founders of the lodge , and also the officers and brethren generally , for the very kind assistance they had given him , and for the way they had helped him in all matters he had brought forward ; they had supported him in every possible way , and he was only too pleased and proud to say that during the past year they
had not had the slightest difference of opinion . The lodge had worked most admirably ; one and all had taken an interest in it ; each one had studied to do his duty individually , and they had carried it out to the great satisfaction of every one . The success of the lodge naturally followed ; but it had followed beyond the expectations of the founders when they proposed it . They had initiated eleven in the lodge , and had had several
joining members . All were good , true , and worthy brethren , he was proud to say—men who should be admitted to Freemasonry . It was the duty of lodges to be very particular as to whom they admitted . In conclusion , Bro . Dean remarked that the success of the lodge had exceeded his anticipations , and had been more than he had thought or dreamt of .
The W . M . next proposed "The Visitors , " of whom he read the list , and called upon Bro . Col . Stevenson , Past Grand Master of Canada , to reply . Col . Stevenson , in reply , said he did not desire that the brethren should accept him as a fair specimen of Canadian Masons , for this particular reason , which would commend itself to their judgment—he was sure that they had within
Ar00802
that room two magnificent specimens of Canadian Masons Bros . General Brownrigg and j . M . P . Montagu . Both these brethren were made in Canada ; and he believed the brethren would admit that even the Grand Lodge of England owed something to that benighted country , inasmuch as it had given it tsvo such useful members . Following the example which had been set of making short speeches , he would say he was exceedingly grateful for the courtesy and
the kind and fraternal feeling which had been shown him during the past two or three days that he had been within this great city ; and it had occurred to him that if he could only spare the time ( and people who lived in such a great city believed that visitors from abroad could spare the time ) he would experience the same hospitality that people going to America would experience . Now , his stay was a very limited one , but he had enjoyed himself
most thoroughly . It was a most fortunate thing for him to have met the Grand Secretary , Colonel Shadwell H . Clerke , through whom he had experienced great hospitality . He had experienced this at Golden-square , and now he had experienced it again in the Montague Guest Lodge . For such a young lodge it was a marvel , and it had presented a most creditable spectacle that day . He had admired , as everybody else must have admired , the verv
efficient manner in which everything was done in the lodge . He thought they had made a splendid selection in their choice ofa W . M ., who had exhibited great judgment in his choice of officers . He should look with considerable interest upon the working of No . 1900 . They had no such high number as that in Canada . The people there had more to do in clearing the forest , sowing the seed and reaping the harvest , than in learning Freemasonry . Still
there were parts here and there where Freemasonry was cultivated , and when England , Scotland and Ireland had learned that it was their duty to send people out there instead of to foreign nations , where the feeling was not always in favour of this country , he had no doubt they would be able in Canada to build it up , and on the same principles has had been witnessed that evening . He had enjoyed himself very much in the lodge ;
he had also enjoyed himself very much at the banquet table ; and he had also very much enjoyed the music . After a few remarks on the programme , the distinguished brother said the brethren must be cautious as to whom they admitted into the Order ; that number was not to be so much accounted as quality ; and that if the privilege of the ballot-box was not carefully exercised they might get inferior members into the Order , who would be found to be
like one bad apple in a barrel of fruit . The W . M . next proposed " The Charities . " The fundamental object of Freemasonry was charity . Charity was the giving to those who were in want ; but there was another Kind of charity which some time or other they were called upon to practice—charity of heart . The
second they had been called upon in this lodge to practice , and he hoped that they would continue to do so ; that they would have brotherly love still in them , and spread it wherever they could . There was another brother present ( Bro . Terry ) who could expound the other charity better than he could , and he should call on him to respond to this toast .
Bro . James 1 erry , in response , said he ventured to think that in that lodge and on that night this was one of the most appropriate toasts that could possibly have been given , because inaugurating , as it was , the W . M . 's year of office . The W . M . commenced with a recognition of those Institutions which were a comfort and solace of persons in declining years , and the assistance of those of the rising generation . The W . M . ' s kindness of heart was not
confined to those guests who were around the table , because he was at that moment entertaining the inmates or the Benevolent Institution at Croydon in commemoration of his ( the W . M . 's ) accession to the chair of the Montague Guest Lodge . He ( Bro . Terry ) had just received a telegram from Croydon stating that the inmates of the Institution had enthusiastically drank the W . M . ' s health , and expressed their wishes for his prosperity and that of his lodr / e . When
the brethren heard from P . M . Dean that the amount of money taken up from this lodge to the three Institutions this year was £ 500 , it spoke well for the kindness of heart of those who had taken the position of Stewards , and those who had supported them . The sum of £ 500 from a new lodge in the course of twelve months was no inconsiderable amount . In provinces £ 500 sometimes was not sent up in twelve months ; and , therefore , it was something
that a lodge might be proud of . But was there not a cause for it ? Was not the cause that the lodge had as one of its officers the Secretary of one of those Institutions of which he had spoken ? He hoped that the coming year would be as prosperous as the past to the lodge , and equally successful to the Institution of which he ( Bro . Terry ) was Secretary . The lodge had present that evening a brother who had kindly consented to
preside at the festival of the Benevolent Institution in February , 1 SS 3 , the R . W . Prov . G . M . for Surrey , and it was to be hoped that the Montague Guest Lodge , having had the honour of his presence that evening , would kindly and considerately think they owed him something for that honour , and would give the name of a Steward for the festival . Nothing would be a more graceful recognition of the honour conferred by the presence of that distinguished soldier . If also they accompanied that Stewardship with a
gift of notes and cheques and gold , the General would highly esteem it . What the Institutions were doing mi ght be seen in the newspapers . He would thank this lodge for what it had done in the past and hope that it might continue so to do in the future ; that the brethren who were coming into it would follow the example so well set by the W . M . and the other founders of the Lodge ; and their feelings might still remain in the hearts of the other members ; and that those who would follow might emulate the example set in 18 S 1 and 1 SS 2 , when the Montague Guest Lodge
ame into existence . The W . M . next proposed "The Treasurer and Secretary . " There had been so much said about Bro . Dean that evening that he was at a loss what more to say about him . He had worked heartily in the lodge as W . M ., and if he carried out the duties of Treasurer as well the lodge would have every reason to be satisfied . As to Bro . Collier , the
Secretary , he was second to none . He was indefatigable , courteous , and always ready at any call , —in fact , he would do all he could to please everyone . Bro . Dean , l . P . M . and Treasurer , said it was an honour to follow so distinguished a Mason as Bro . Montague Guest , in the office of Treasurer . It was pleasing to nim to find that the brethren placed their trust in him , and it