Provincial Grand Lodge Of Derbyshire.

pant of that chair could tell them that peace onci more filled the earth , He was sure there was not a Mason in IDerbyshire who , in his nightly prayers and thanksgivings , failed to ask such a priceless blessing as that of peace on earth . Bro . Okeover concluded by wishing al ! present , and especially the W . Ms , of the lodges , a happy Christmas and a prosperous new year . The J ' rov . Grand Lodge was then closed , and a large company subsequently dined in the lower hall , under the presidency of Bro . Okeover .

Consecration Of The Cuing Ford Lodge , No. 2859.

CONSECRATION OF THE CUING FORD LODGE , No . 2859 .

It was a real disappointment to the large and representative gathering of Essex Fret masons at the Royal Forest Hotel , Chingford , on Tuesday , the 3 rd instant , that the \ lar \ of Warv . uk , Prov . G . M ., and his Deputy , I 3 ro ! Colonel Lockwood , M . P ., were both prevented from taking part in the consecration of a new lodge , to be called the Chingford Lodge , No . 2 S 59 , the formir by illness , and the Liter by another Masonic engagement . In tha

absence of these two distinguished brethren , theceremonv of consecration was peiformed by the Prov . Grand Secretary , Brg , Thos . J . Railing , P . A . G . D . C . who was assisted by Bros . Win . Shurmur , P . G . S . B ., P . P . G . Treas ., as D . P . G . M . ; Howel J . J . Pries , Prov . S . G . W ., as S . W . ; Walter J . Tull , Prov . J . G . W ., as J . W . ; Rev . Elsan I . Colnett , Prov . G . Chap ., as Chap ; John J . C . Turner , P . P . S . G . W ., as Sec ; Albert Lucking , P . G . P ., Prov . G . D . C , as D . C ; R . Clowes , P . G . Std . Br ., P . P . S . G . W ., as I . G .

In opening the proceedings , the CONSECRATING OFFICER said no one regretted more than himself the circumstances which had placed him in his present position . They had for some time been looking forward to the p leasure of meeting their beloved Provincial Grand Master , and their regret at his absence was intensified by the cause of it . O . ily on the previous Saturday he ( the speaker ) had received a communication from Lord

Warwick making an appointment to meet him this day , and they might judge of his astonishment and regret when on Monday he received a telegram from Lady Warwick that his lordship had contracted a most serious cold and chill , and was quite unfit to travel . This was followed by a brief confirmatory note from Lord Warwick himself , his lord ship adding : "I am very sorry and very disappointed—please tell the brethren so , and that I

will come and pay them a visit later on . " As regarded the object of their gatheiing that day it must naturally be a most interesting one to all thoughtful Masons , because they were founding a new centre of Masonic influence which they fervently hoped would add lustre and strength to their province . At a time like this it was well to bear in mind that the b-ethren who undertook the foundation of a new lodge were in a position of great

responsibility , particularly during the early years of its existence . He hoped the iounders would not misunderstand him if he ventu-ed to point out that there was a danger during the infancy of a lodge lest there should be too great a desire to add to its membership without due regard to the character of those who might be admitted . This particular lodge , as he understood the intention of the founders , was designed to provide a Masonic

home for Chingford people , and there must be many gentlemen 111 thtf attractive residential neig hbourhood who would be glad to avail themselves of ( he opportunity of practising the ancient Craft ; but he should like to impress upon the founders that the idea of a lodge was a community of brethren knowing and respecting each other , who w mid ba alw . vjs happy

to meet , sorry to part , and who would look forward to the happiness of meeting again . He was sure he mig ht in the name of the large and distinguished body of brethren who had gathered that afternoon , wish the lodge and its members every prosperity , and fervently hope it might have a long and distingushed career of Masonic usefulness .

The D . of G . having read the charter from the Grand Lodge of England authorising the formation of the lodge , the ceremony of consecration was proceeded with according to ancient custom , the musicil portions baing rendered by Bros . Thomas Powell , Etherington Smith , Charles Strong , and Horace Reynolds , under the direction of Bro . W . Ensrsoa .

A very thoughtful and highly instructive oration on the Nature and Principles of the Institution , " was delivered by the Prov . G and Cfnplain , Bro . the Rev . ELSAN 1 . COLNETT , Chaplain to the Bagshaw Lodge , No . 1437 . He said : In dealing with so complex an institution as Freemasonry , it was not easy to cxprcM * in a few words- those essential things which marked it off from bodies

which appeared to resemble it . They often heard i : sud , " Treemisonry was not a religion , " and , while almitting that this was mostcertiinly true , they must bi cartful lest they implied more than the words expressed . The wjrJ religion \ va ; used in more senses than one . They spoke , for instance , of the ChrUt an , or Jewish , cr Mohammedan religions , and , as Max M tiller re nin led them , they could jpeak in that sense ot a man changing his religion as he m ' git chinge tne

language he had been accustomed to use . " But , " Miiller went on to siy , " as there is a faculty of speech in in 3 n ind .-pendent of all spoken langu iges . sj thenis a faculty of religious faith in man independent of all religions . " Yes , there was a faculty within them which made religion natural , a faculty which found its spheieof exercise only in the seaich after God . But while Freemasoiry must not indeed be labelled "a religion , " at the same time it was in eery sense

religious , for it recognised that wnich they might oil the religious faculty . Oliver Wendell Holmes expressed something like the same idei when he spoke in his " Poet of the Breakfast Table " of the possibility of a " Bo id " Church . He explained the idea as that of a body of men not united became they held in common a very large number of opinions as against the rest of Ih ; wo Id , but linked by a few things they held in common , and in spite of many o ' . b ; r dilT r-

ences . " Freemasonry , " he says , " g ives an idea of such a Church . " It might , said the Rev . Chaplain ; but in suggesting that idea it must not hi confou . 11 . led with the realisation of it . Freemasonry was not a religion , a seel , or a Church . But it was essentially religious , and he thought they would agree with him that the first thing they must notice if they would understand its nature and principles was that it recognised that elemental religious faculty , and slight to dtvelope it .

It did not compete with the historical religions , nor seek to o : cupy their places . It was , however , based upon the religious faculty in man , an i though it only asked of its adherents . 1 simple declaration of faith in God , yet it expected that declaration to be made sincerely and unreservedly . In enforcing this point the rev . gentleman reminded his hearers that the blessing of fie Supreme Governor

of the Universe was sought on the first admission of a candidate ; that tbe Volume of the Sacred Law was ever open in the lodge , not for mere show , for eveiy ceremony found its significance in thnt sacred book ; and with special regard to the work in which they were then engaged , they dedicated the lodge to God and his service . Yes , the lodge was a Temple indeed . They sprinkled it

Consecration Of The Cuing Ford Lodge , No. 2859.

with corn to denote plenty and abundince ; they poured wine upon it t ) signify joy and cheerfulness ; oil for peace and harmony ; and they sprinkled silt for hospitality and friendship . But they did more , they burnt sweet incense in coajunction with prayer—the sign of their belief in an ever-listening God , and an Ovcr-rulfng Providence . Thus recognising God as the Father of all , Freemasonry was a Brotherhood , and they said with legitimate pride that their Order was founded on the principles of Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth . It was very

necessary for them often to recall the great principles upon which the Order was founded , if they were to maintain the high ideal set before them . Especially those who were gathered there that day ought to feel that responsibility , for this was not an ordinary gathering of the Craft . They were met for the establish , ment of a new centre of Masonic life and influence—their work that day was to a certain extent that of propaganda . They wished them to be imbued with the lrue Masonic spirit , as only a lofty conception of the nature and purposes of the

Order would enable them to do that . If the founders esteemed Masonry lightly , the result of their work would be inconsiderable , perhaps , even pernicious , for they might degrade the Order for many generations to com ; . He confessed he looked upon the future of that lodge with great interest , and not alone because he had the honour of assisting at its consecration . The circumstances of Chingford were very much like those of her neighbour Lou ; hton , where he resid : d and where the Bagshaw Lodge met , of which he was a member . He knew well how good an influence the Bagshaw Lodge had upon their village life . He had often

been able to trace increased harmony and brotherly love ir . their village community to its source in their lodge . He was a parish priest through and through , and he thought there was no higher tribute that he could pay to Misonry than to say he had always found it a help in his pirish work to be a M ison among Masons and to be a member of a lodge actually meeting in the place where he laboured . He was confident that the same good results would b 2 realised in Chingford . Might it be so and might the Great Architect of the Universe shei His abundant blessing upon the lodge tli 2 y were met that day to consecrate !

At the conclusion of the consecration ceremony , the first Master of the lodge , Bro . George R . Brown , was ably installed by Bro . Albert Lucking , P . G . Purst ., Prov . G . D . C ., and the new W . M . having invited Bro . Fred . Taylor , P . M . 2256 , to act as I . P . M . for the year , the officers were invested as follows : Bros . Sydney Fortescue , S . W . ; J . Parkinson Watts , J . W . j S . C . Rhodes , Treas . ; Charles T . Papworth , Sec ; Hirry Bird , SD ; George H . Pizey , J . D . ; W . W . West , I . G . ; K . M . Yeoman , D . C . ; F . C . Gooding , Stwd . ; and John Ives , Tyler .

I he W . M . was elected to represent the lodge on the Essex Provincial Charity Committee . Letters were read from Bros , his Honour Judge Philbrick , K . C . ; Col . Lockwood , M . P . ; Claude E . Egerton-Green , P . P . S . G . W . ; and other brethren , regretting their inability to attend . A hearty vote of thanks having been accorded to the Consecrating Officers , they were unanimously elected honorary members of the lodge . Thanks were also accorded the Prov . Grand Chaplain for his excellent address .

Between 70 and 80 brethren alterwards dined together , under the presidency of the new W . M ., fervent wishes being expressed by the after-dinner speakers for the welfare of the new lodge . Early in the evening , at ths suggestion of the Consecrating Officer , a telegram of regret at his illness and wishes for his speedy recivery , wis sent to Lord Warwick , and a reply was received from his lordship that though somewhat better , he was still in bed , and wishing every prosperity to the Chingford Lodge .

Ad00303

AMETHODISTj MINISTERI OF 40 YEARS' STANDING , SAYS : "Fov yours I was troubled with Indigestion and H Constipation , and suffered greatl y from Giddiness , 0 Nervous Debility and Sleeplessness . H SPIfiFI'SI SYRUP. "The best medical skill seemed of no avail , and I B fpiife thought , my ministerial work w ; is coming to a , H close . However , a friend urged me to try Sei" -ol ' s Hi Syrup , mid four bottles sulliced to make my cure H complete . "—( I ! ev . ) J . SI ' KNSLIOV , Wintorton , Doncaster , H 5 / 1 / D 1 . B