Consecration Of The Waldeck Lodge, No. 1969.

pointed Secretaty , but being unavoidably absent on the Continent , his investiture had to be postponed . Thc following brethren were appointed and invested as officers of the lodge : Bros . Schott , S . D . ; Carl Quitmann , J . D . ; ancl Bro . Fister , I . G . Upon a show of hands , Bro . Church was elected Tyler , and was thereupon summoned and invested .

Ihe Installing Master , Col . CLERKE , delivered thc addresses to the Master , Wardens , and brethren , and the ceremony of installation was complete . The W . M ., addressing thc lodge , said he was quite sure that all present would be pleased lo learn that H . R . H . thc Duke of Albany , the Prov Giand

Master for Oxford , had conferred a greal honour on thc lodge , he having signified his willingness to be enrolled as an honorary member of thc Waldeck Lodge . H . R . H . had also been graciously pleased to allow thc lodge to adopt the arms of the House of Waldeck as thc arms of the lodge ; and a letter from H . R . H . ' s secretary intimating these facts was read lo thc lodge and ordered to be entered on the minutes .

It was then proposed by the W . M ., seconded by the J . W ., and carried by acclamation , that H . R . H . the Duke of Albany be elected an honorary member of the lodge . Bro . Q UITMANN : Brethren , I now have thc honour of presenting to the lodge This banner bearing the Waldeck Arms , which , as you have heard , we are authorised to use as the arms of the Waldeck Lodge . ( Cheers . )

Bro . WEHLEN , J . W ., proposed a vote of thanks to Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , and lo the other Grand Officers who had assisted him in performing thc ceremonies of consecration and installation . He was sure that thc

impressive nature of the consecration ceremony as that day performed would be of service to Ihe VV . M . in the working of his lodge , while the brotherly love with which Col . Clerke had installed him could not fail to cheer him during the performance of the most arduous duties . This proposal having been seconded by the S . Warden was carried unanimously .

' 1 he W . M ., having informed Col . Clerke and his assistant Grand Officers of thc foregoing vote , then turned to thc lodge and informed them that Col . Clerke had consented to be an honorary member of the lodge , and accordingly proposed that he be enrolled as such on the lodge books . The proposition was seconded by thc S . D . and carried by acclamation . In informing the Grand Secretary of the fact , thc W . M . said that he had also the pleasure

of presenting him with a lodge jewel , bearing the Waldeck Arms , and having inscribed at the back of it these words : " Presented to Bro . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , by the founders of the Waldeck Lodge , 196 9 , as a token of their great esteem and gratitude , July loth , 1 S 82 . " The founders felt deeply indebted lo Col . Clerke for his services on that day , and they asked him to accept that jewel as a small souvenir of their regard , and hoped he would live to wear it for many years to come in their lodge .

COL . CLERKE : Worshipful Sir , I was aware that I was about to have the honour conferred upon me of an honorary membership , but this is entirely unexpected . 1 quite re-echo the wish that for many years lo come I may have Ihe gratification of occasionally wearing this jewel at ihe meetings of ihe Waldeck Lodge .

Thc S . W . proposed that the Grand Officers who hacl assisted Bro . Col . Clerke should also be enrolled honorary members of the lodge , vi / .., Bros . Dr . Wendt , John Messent , the Rev . Thos . Cochrane . Frank Richardson , and H . G . Buss ; and the proposition being seconded by the J . W ., was carried unanimously . Bro . WENDT returned thanks for himself and llic other Grand Officers upon whom this honour had been conferred .

The W . M . informed the brethren that since their arrangements for the evening wcre made they had discovered lhat the dining-room at Freemasons ' Tavern was engaged , and lhat , therefore , a dispensation had been solicited from the Grand Master that the dinner mi g ht bc held al the Holborn Restaurant , and that thc brethren might bc allowed lo dine in Masonic clothing . The required dispensation had been granted on condition that none of the brethren should wear their Masonic clothing out of the

banquetroom . There were a large number of iniliales and joining members proposed , and then the lodge was closed in clue form and with solemn prayer . At the conclusion of the dinner , which followed thc holding of the lodge , the customary Masonic toasts were proposed .

In proposing the toast of "Thc Queen and the Craft , " the W . M . said lhat the Queen had no more loyal and devoted subjects than the Freemasons , and he might say that thc present lodge was especially so , connected as they were by name with one who had recently , through marriage with the Duke of Alban } ' , become dear to Her Majesty . " The Queen , as the brethren were aware , was the daughter of a Mason , a patron of our Order ,

the mother of three Masons , and a Queen of matchless virlue . ( Applause . ) In proposing thc next toast , the V / . M . said that il was unnecessary for him lo sing thc praises of the M . W . G . M ., the Prince of Wales . It was well-known that H . R . IL took a deep interest in Freemasonry , and the speaker was sure that he would be echoing the feeling of all present in saving that thev were very proud to have such a ruler of thc Craft . He

would lake this opportunity to acknowledge the debt of gratitude which the W ; . ldcck Lodge was under to thc Grand Master , who had granted a warrant upon their petition , and he would ask Bro . Col . Shadwell it . Clerke , as Grand Secretary , lo convey their grateful feelings to the Most Worshipful Grand Master for ihe honour he had done them . Thc W . M . said the next toasl he had to propose was that of "The Pro

Grand Master , the Karl of Carnarvon , with which he should associate that of "The Deputy Grand Master , the Earl of Lathom , and the rest of ihe Grand Oflicers , Present and Past . " This loast was always well received , but he was sure it was never received more cordially than it would be that evening in thc Waldeck Lodge , when they were favoured with the visit of manv Grand Oflicers—many distinguished Grand Officers . He would not

specify thc different ranks held b y them , nor enumerate the grand services rendered by them to ihe Craft in general , but would confine himself to saying thai there never were more efficient Grand Officers than those at present holding office . He would couple with this toasl thc name of Bro . Bevan , District Grand Master of Westland , New Zealand . Bro . BEVAN , in reply , said thai he was somewhat diffident aboul responding for so important a toast . He supposed his name had been coupled with

it as being the greatest stranger , but he thought there were even greater strangers who had been mentioned in connection with that toast . Ifc had had the privilege of meeting Lord Lathom at Grand Lodge , and he took him to be a fair sample of the Grand Officers , and he must say that Masonry had achieved a great deal in securing such men as Grand Officers . Lord Carnarvon ' s name was known lo thc end of thc earth in connection wilh Modern Freemasonry , and no encomiums from him were necessary . Bro . Bevan said he could not understand why he , the junior officer of Grand

Consecration Of The Waldeck Lodge, No. 1969.

Lodge , should be called upon to respond to that important toast . The more he knew of Freemasonry , thc more essentially he loved it , because it was one of those institutions which united men together . It seemed to him when travelling thai they were all members of the same great family . It gave him great pleasure to be present on that occasion , and he assured the W . M . that in the Colonies some of the most zealous brethren of the Craft were

Germans . He considered it a great honour to be called upon to respond for the Grand Officers , though he thought that his friend , Bro . Giddy , would have been better qualified for the task . They would both be shortly returning to the Colonics , and for his part he would say that his pleasant recollections of his visit home would ever bc associated with his visit to witness the consecration of the Waldeck Lodge .

Thc VV . M . said that the toast he was now about bring to the notice of the brethren was one not usually submitted to Masonic gatherings , but was one which he thought they would agree with him should become a permanent one with the Waldeck Lodge , associated as it was wilh the happiness of one

of Her Majesty ' s sons , who had become a member of their lodge , the Provincial Grand Master , Oxon . He might add that it was the intention of the lodge to present His Royal Highness with a jewel somewhat like that which had been presented to Col . Clerke . ( Cheers . ) He called upon them to drink " The Health of H . R . H . Prince Leopold , Duke of Albany . "

The W . M . said the toast which he had now to propose was a very important one , and one to which he was sure the members of the lodge had been looking forward most anxiously ; it was thai of "The Consecrating Officer , Col . Clerke . " He assured them that it gave him a special pleasure to propose that toast , as in doing so he had again an opportunity of expressing to Col . Clerke his thanks ior all the great assistance he had given to

the founders in connection with the formation of this lodge . It was unnecessary for him ( thc W . M . ) to call their attention to the very able manner in which the consecration ceremony was conducted ; they were present and witnessed it themselves , and he was sure they all appreciated , besides , thc great services rendered by their Grand Secretary to Freemasonry in general . He was sure he need not add another word , and called upon them at once

to drink " The Health of Col . Clerke , " In replying , Bro . Col . SHADWELL H . CLERKE , said , that it was a very grat pleasure and a very great gratification to him to be allowed to return thanks on that occasion for the very fraternal way in which they had acknowledged thc assistance he had been able to give them . He should not inflict a long speech upon them for he was sure that after hearing his voice

so much that day they did not want lo hear much more . It had been a very great pleasure to take the small part he had taken in ushering this lodge into existence . During the last month or so , he had had various interviews with the founders of the lodge , and had been very greatly impressed with the very earnest spirit with which they wished to start the lodge . It had given him sincere pleasure to forward their wishes , and he sincerely congratulated

them on the events of thc day , and upon the success that had attended their efforts . i . The Waldeck Lodge had been started under very good auspices ; all the arrangements made by the lodge were without a single blemish , and had not been marred in any way , and the brethren present had now ended the proceedings of the day by attending this evening a magnificent banquet . He really thought : that the visitors pf the lodge had

rather the best of it . rer himself , he was quite proud and equally honored in being permitted to take a part in the formation of the Waldeck Lodge . He would take that opportunity of thanking ; the founders of the Lodge for the handsome jewel with which they had presented him . ' lt wns the first jewel he had ever been presented with as consecrating officer—he did not say that as a ,

hint , but merely mentioned it as a fact . He was exceedingly obliged by the kind thought which permitted such a recognition of his small services . And now he would proceed to the toast of the evening . They had been labouring to buildupa kind of Masonic kingdom ,. and the King of that kingdom was the brother who was now to be specially honoured and toasted to-ni ght . They were very fortunate to have so good a brother in that position ; one who had

done service in the order and had served as W . M . in La Tolerance lod ge , and who gave what in diplomatic circles were called material guarantees b y bringing a brother into the lodge as an officer , and two other brothers as initiates : that showed that the W . M . was earnest in his work , and thc lodge th at had so earnest a brother at its head must be considered

fortunate . His wardens and other officers were brethren in whom he had the hig hest confidence . Col . Clarke said it therefore gave him very great p leasure to ask those present to drink to " The Prosperity of the Waldeck 1 -odge , started as it was under the auspices of the Duke of Albany , and to the health of the first Master , Bro . Quitmann . "

Bro . QUITMANN , in reply , said he rose with feelings of gratitude to the last speaker for the kind and very flattering words in which the toast had been proposed , and to the brethren for the kind way in which they had received it . When he looked round and saw so many distinguished Masons present he could not help saying that he thought this was the brightest day in his Masonic career . The events of the day had made on his mind so

deep an impression that they never would be washed from his memory ; thc confidence which His Royal Highness had placed in him by appointing him the first Master of that lodge would ever be a bright feature in the speaker ' s history . Realising the duties which he had undertaken , il should ever bellis study to promote the welfare and uphold the dignity of the Waldeck Lodge .

Several other toasts were proposed , including one to "The Visitors ., " which was responded to by Bros . ATKINSON , of the Provincial Grand Masters' Lodge Derry and Donegal , G . S . W . Antrim ; Rev . RAVENSHAW , P . G . Chaplain ; LAMBERT , HUMPHREYS , WILSON , and others . The list of Grand Officers and other eminent Masons present included : V . W . Bros . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , Grand Sec . ; Dr . Wendt , Grand Secretary of German

Correspondence ; VV . liro . J . Messent , G . Swd . Ur . ; V . W . liro . Rev . T . Cochrane , M . A ., Grand Chap . ; W . Bros . V . Richardson , P . G . D . ; G . H . Buss , Assist . Grand Sec .: Capt . N . G . Philips , P . G . D . ; J . M . Case , P . G . D . ; K . VV . Hoskins Giddy , District G . M . Gn'iualand ; J . Bevan , District G . M . Westland , New Zeland ,- R . Atkinson , Prov . Grand Master ' s I . odge Derry and Donegal , G . S . W . Antrim ; VV . VVilson , P . G . Purs . ; Rev . Kavenshaw , P . G . Chap . ; 1 ,. Knoblanch , 392 ; VV . Braby ; 1541 j | . Kench , 53 S ; K . Odenham , 11 ; . J . I . Goode , 1510 ; S . P . Catterson , 1 S 02 ; J . VV . Humphrey , WS ; T .

Goode , 1677 ; H . liraUsy , 20 S ; l' \ H . Cozens , < j 07 ; H . Ashton , Mozart Lodge ; A . Aloore , Whittington Lodge ; C . J . Bennett , 13 G 5 ; A . liarheld , 35 ; H . Sadler , G . Tyler ; C . Kupferschmidt , 208 ; K . Home , 1677 ; ' 1 hos . Bicknell , 538 ; C . Verrer , 208 ; G . Lambert , irjS , P . G . S . B . ; C . Chellen , . 5 ; Ii . VVilson , 53 S ; J . VV . Simmonds , 12 SS ; Frank Rothschild , l-insbury Park Lodge ; II . 1 . Wood , 12 G 0 ; G . T . Carter , 38 " !; L . Smyth , 498 ; Dr . Harrer , 20 S ; E . Eschwege , 20 S ; C . Challen , 3 ; and E . C . Massey , 1297 ( Freemason . )

. Letters of regret were received from Sir Albert Woods ( Garter ) , Horace Jones , Sir John B . Monckton , and Capt . Montagu , who were unable to be present .