Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Consecration Of The Earl Of Clarendon Lodge, No. 1984.
for the year : Bros . J . L . Mather , S . W . ; H . J . Giller , J . W . ; G . Tidcomb , jun ., Treas . ; VV . Wilson , Sec ; John Walker , S . D . : VV . T . Graves , J . D . ; W . Large , M . C ; T . C . Grant , I . G . ; and Charles Thomas , Tyler . After lhe addresses the W . M . called upon the brethren , as their first act as a lodge , to salute the Provincial Grand Master , which was accordingly done .
Propositions for initiations and joining were then given in , and on the proposition of the W . M ., seconded by the S . W ., the Prov . Grand Master , Bro . T . F . Halsey , and the Grand Secretary , Bro . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , were elected honorary members of the lodge . Both brethren thanked the lodge , and expressed the gratification they had experienced in performing the ceremonies of consecration and installation . A vote of thanks was also carried to Bro . George Lambert for the loan of the consecratinp- vessels .
i he lodge was then closed , and the brethren adjourned to the banquet , the W . M . presiding , supported on his right by the Prov . Grand Master and the Grand Secretary , and on his left by the Past Prov . Grand Chaplain and Bro . the Rev . O . Thompson . After banquet the usual toasts were proposed . The VV . M ., in proposing "The Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Carnarvon , the Deputy Grand Master , the Earl of Lathom , & c , " said that the
Earl of Clarendon Lodge took peculiar interest in the Earl of Lathom , because he was brother-in-law to the Earl of Clarendon , from whom the lodge took its name . With regard to the Grand Secretary he was the right man in the right place , and he believed there was never a righter man in the right place . Colonel SHADWELL H . CLERKE , in reply , after thanking the W . M . on behalf of the' Grand Officers , said , for himself , that he thanked the W . M . for his very flattering remarks ; and he could assure both the W . M . and the
brethren that it was a sincere pleasure to him to attend and put his shoulder to the wheel , and do some of the work of the day . He was only too happy and too ready , so far us in his power lay , to give any assistance whatever in the cause of Masonry . The W . M . having entrusted him with the next toast , he was sorry he had not sufficient eloquence to bring before the brethren adequately the task he was entrusted with ; but the toast thoroughly commended itself to the brethren— " The Health of the Provincial Grand
Master . " What could he say to the brethren of Herts that they did not already know better than he did ? Bro . Halsey had made his mark in Masonry long before he was appointed Provincial Grand Master . Since he had held the position he had taken the deepest possible personal interest in the welfare and prosperity of the province ; he never lost any opportunity of coming among the provincial brethren and giving them the advantage of his genial
countenance and presence ; his heart went into all their ceremonies , and he thoroughl y identified himself with the brethren of the province . Therefore , the province was most heartily to be congratulated in having Bro . Halsey as Provincial Grand Master , and he hoped he might long live to retain that position . Bro . HALSEY , in responding to the toast , which was most enthusiastically
received , said he thanked the brethren most cordially for their reception , and could only say in return that it had given him very great pleasure to be present to consecrate another lodge in his province , 'fhe Earl of Clarendon was the fourth new lodge that had come into existence in the province since he had the honour of becoming Provincial Grand Alaster . If they went on like that it was a proof that , although Herts was a small province , and might
not be able to compete with the large provinces of the manufacturing districts of the North of England , still that , as a country district Masonry was holding its own in it , and doing the work that it should do in the kingdom . Hc rejoiced most cordially that it should be so , but whilst acknowledging the kind expressions of the Grand Secretary , he must say that it was not due to his own merits so much as to the strong support he had received from the
Provincial Grand Officers under him , and especially to the Deputy Provincial Grand Master and the Provincial Grand Secretary . He did not think he should be doing his duty if he was to sit down without mentioning in terms of cordial acknowledgment the various services these brethren had rendered to the province , because he did not believe there was any Provincial Grand Master who had such a Deputy and such a Secretary , together , to assist
him . The whole of the credit for the work which had been done , which was given to him , was really due to those brethren . At the same time it gave him great pleasure to do what he did ; and he certainly did endeavour , as much as he could ( of course as family cares increased it became the more difficult ) , to perform his duties as Provincial Grand Master . It was the duty of a Provincial Grand Master , when he accepted the office , to make
himself personally acquainted , as far as he could , with the state of Masonry in his province , and go as often as he could among the brethren . That he had humbly endeavoured to do . He must congratulate the Earl of Clarendon Lodge more especially on the very successful commencement of its Masonic career ; but he would remind the brethren that their successful commencement , in itself , laid on them a great responsibility . It would be
for them , by their own exertions , to keep up the prestige of tho Craft which they had joined . He believed there was ample room for such a lodge , and he sincerely trusted it mig ht have a long career of usefulness and prosperity , and he thought it was the duty of every Provincial Grand Master to advise a young lodge in his province to look not so much to quantity as to quality . At the present moment Masonry held a high position in this country—he
did not think he should be wrong in saying a higher position than it had held at any past time ; but then it was the very pride of that position which involved certain drawbacks . Of course , to a certain extent , they knew that Masonry , at the present time , was in a greater degree of fashion , and when anything became a fashion there would always be a set of people who wished to be in the fashion . It might be quite right ; but it was the duty of every lodge to exercise the utmost circumspection in
recruiting and keeping up the numbers . Masons wished to exclude no one if he W £ ts in a respectable and reputable position in life , and would rellcct credit on Masonry . Wc all know the ups and downs of life . Those who were in the highest position to-day mig ht be in trouble to-morrow , and if a Mason who had been in good circumstances fell into want they were only too proud to extend to them brotherly relief . But at the same lime they were not a mere benefit society . They did not join Masonry as they could join a club
or other society , where if they subscribed so much in a certain time , they were entitled to so much . That was not the object with which a man ought to enter Masonry , for they ought to keep Masonry on a higher pedestal than that . For that reason , hc thought it was the duty of brethren , occupying a similar position to himself , when addressing a young lodge , to caution the brethren in quality to maintain their character , and not to think a lodge was prosperous because it had a large number of members . He felt it his duty , as their Provincial Grand Master
Consecration Of The Earl Of Clarendon Lodge, No. 1984.
at the opening- of a new lodge in his province , lo make that caution . He believed that it was unnecessary in this case , for he was certain that a lodge started under such auspices as thc Earl of Clarendon , and under the guidance of such an experienced brotheras Bro . Dr . Wilson Ilcs—to say nothing of other members of the lodge . He felt sure that this lodge would do its duty and become an ornament and credit to Masonry in geneVal , and Masonry in that province in particular . Before sitting down lie had to turn to a more
pleasing task , and ask the brethren to drink "The Health of the W . M . " It had given him great pleasure to propose the toast , because on every occasion the W . M . had in the most enthusiastic manner , and at the utmost inconvenience to himself , always supported him most loyally in the province ; and he could onl y say that it gave him the-very highest pleasure to be able on the present occasion , however inadequately and unworthily , to return a little of that support by coming to support him in the chair .
The W . M ., in reply , said he responded to the toast in a dual capacity . Following the footsteps of so distinguished a chief as Bro . Halsey , it would seem there was very little he could do without trenching on his prerogative . Nevertheless , he hoped in the course he had endeavoured to pursue he had not trenched on the prerogative , but had followed the course thc Provincial Grand Master would follow—as far as his own avocations would nermit . Hc
had followed the lod ges in the province and had reported their progress to the Prov Grand Master , and it had been gratifying for him to do so , " because on all occasions he had been received in those lodges with the greatest cordiality , and he had great pleasure in observing during the ycars ° hchad been in oflice thc great progress Masonic working had made in thc province . He could remember the time when the rilual . he would not •- •iv w . i < - imb » n
but it was very little known ; it was in the hands of very few , and thc ceremonies were worked b y a Past Master , or soma brother who was used to do it , and the W . M . stood on one side of the purpose . But now hc sawbrethren doing their duty as far as they possibly could , and succeeding in a most admirable manner , He did not care where they went throughout the country , but he did not believe they would find the ritual of Masonrv
better worked than in the Province of Herts . As W . M . of this ncw lodge , which had just been consecrated , he felt he had accepted a very responsible position . It was somewhat different when a lodge was established where Masonry had not previously existed , but when a new lodge was established where another lod ge had been going on in a most admirable manner for fifty years , it was a exeat resoonsibllilv to undertake
the working of a new lodge . But they had only to emulate the work that had been done in the mother lodge of that town and they could not do very far wrong . There were many brethren who could back him up in saying that the work of the lodge was very admirably carried on ; and it would be the endeavour of the Earl of Clarendon Lodge to emulate the working of that lodge , to raise it b y degrees to a similarly proud position in the province .
No efforts on his part would be wanting , and those brethren who were associated with him would sustain him cordially in that endeavour . He felt they could not be too careful in following the advice of the Provincial Grand Master as to the admission of members to the new lodge . It was not , as the Provincial Grand Master had so justly observed , so much quantity as quality that they must tro in for . The lodee was estnblishprl
to fill up a gap in that widel y increasing place , as far as Freemasonry was concerned , and he hoped they would do so worthil y ; but at the same time they should be careful in scrutinising the quality of those gentlemen or brethren who were proposed for initiation or joining , and they should not admit to their lodge those who they did not believe would be a credit to Masonry . The W . M . then thanked the brethren for coming in such large numbers to the consecration .
The W . M . next proposed "The Provincial Grand Officers , Present and Past , " and said it must be a great satisfaction to the founders of the lodge to see so many Provincial Grand Officers around them . They were exceedingly grateful for the presence of those oflicers , and hoped to see them frequently among them . The Provincial Grand Oflicers had in the past discharged important duties , and in their present position they were still doing good service j and , notably , he might mention the good service rendered that day by the Past Prov . Grand Chaplain , Bro . Thomoson . The
oration he delivered was worth y of the occasion ; worthy of him , and worthy also to be remembered b y those who heard him . He coupled with the toast the names of Bro . Cussans , Prov . S . G . W ., and Bro . the Rev . Oswell Thompson , Past Prov . Grand Chaplain . Bro . CUSSANS said he was proud of the oosition he held , .-ind Im l-nn »
the Grand Officers had the goodwill of the Prov . Grand Master . Although young as a Pro - .. Grand Officer , he was twenty-four years old as a Mason The Prov . Grand Officers were in a chrysalis state till they got Grand Office and when they became gaudy butterflies they had very little to do . It was not so with all the Prov . Grand Oflicers ; for instance , the Prov . Grand Treasurer and the Prov . Grand Secretary , who had very hard work to do The Grand VVardens had nothing to do except to thank the brethren very heartily for drinking this toast .
Bro . the Rev . OSWALD IHOMI -SOX , P . P . G . C , replying , said the Grand Senior Warden had made the remark with regard to their Grand Oflicers to which he ventured , in all humility , to take exception . When he spoke of the butterfly condition into which he developed when he put on the Provincial purple , perhaps it was truethat they put on gaudy colours , but if he likened that position to a position in which they did nothing , as in the chrysalis state hc
would nnd tnat they had a great deal to do , for they were all ready to produce any number of young Masons . He did not think anyone could have the slightest doubt about this now that thesecond lod ge was established at Walford 1 hey were still surrounded by Masonic emblems which reminded them of eternity and prosperity . The Clarendon Lodge had been opened with considerable eclat and he trusted it might go on and prosper . On the part of the Grand Officers , he trusted they mi ght have more than one occasion vet before
tney passed irom tins sublunary sphere in which they would be present at the consecration of a lodge in Herts . This was thesecond consecration in the province that he had attended . He had the honour of being ; the first Master of onc lodge , at which a great number of brethren were present ; but an immense number had been present at thc consecration of the Earl of Clarendon Lodge , and he trusted that all new lod ges consecrated in that province would have such good patronage .
lhe W . M . next proposed "The Visitors , " to which toast Bro . F Davison , P . M . io . and Bro . C . F . Matier , responded , and thc other toasts havin < r been honoured , the proceedings terminated . " The evening was enlivened with some beautiful singing by the music-il brethren named above . a a J The London brethren returned to town by the express train from Liverpool , which the General Manager of the London and North Western Railway had arranged to stop at Watford for that purpose .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Consecration Of The Earl Of Clarendon Lodge, No. 1984.
for the year : Bros . J . L . Mather , S . W . ; H . J . Giller , J . W . ; G . Tidcomb , jun ., Treas . ; VV . Wilson , Sec ; John Walker , S . D . : VV . T . Graves , J . D . ; W . Large , M . C ; T . C . Grant , I . G . ; and Charles Thomas , Tyler . After lhe addresses the W . M . called upon the brethren , as their first act as a lodge , to salute the Provincial Grand Master , which was accordingly done .
Propositions for initiations and joining were then given in , and on the proposition of the W . M ., seconded by the S . W ., the Prov . Grand Master , Bro . T . F . Halsey , and the Grand Secretary , Bro . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , were elected honorary members of the lodge . Both brethren thanked the lodge , and expressed the gratification they had experienced in performing the ceremonies of consecration and installation . A vote of thanks was also carried to Bro . George Lambert for the loan of the consecratinp- vessels .
i he lodge was then closed , and the brethren adjourned to the banquet , the W . M . presiding , supported on his right by the Prov . Grand Master and the Grand Secretary , and on his left by the Past Prov . Grand Chaplain and Bro . the Rev . O . Thompson . After banquet the usual toasts were proposed . The VV . M ., in proposing "The Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Carnarvon , the Deputy Grand Master , the Earl of Lathom , & c , " said that the
Earl of Clarendon Lodge took peculiar interest in the Earl of Lathom , because he was brother-in-law to the Earl of Clarendon , from whom the lodge took its name . With regard to the Grand Secretary he was the right man in the right place , and he believed there was never a righter man in the right place . Colonel SHADWELL H . CLERKE , in reply , after thanking the W . M . on behalf of the' Grand Officers , said , for himself , that he thanked the W . M . for his very flattering remarks ; and he could assure both the W . M . and the
brethren that it was a sincere pleasure to him to attend and put his shoulder to the wheel , and do some of the work of the day . He was only too happy and too ready , so far us in his power lay , to give any assistance whatever in the cause of Masonry . The W . M . having entrusted him with the next toast , he was sorry he had not sufficient eloquence to bring before the brethren adequately the task he was entrusted with ; but the toast thoroughly commended itself to the brethren— " The Health of the Provincial Grand
Master . " What could he say to the brethren of Herts that they did not already know better than he did ? Bro . Halsey had made his mark in Masonry long before he was appointed Provincial Grand Master . Since he had held the position he had taken the deepest possible personal interest in the welfare and prosperity of the province ; he never lost any opportunity of coming among the provincial brethren and giving them the advantage of his genial
countenance and presence ; his heart went into all their ceremonies , and he thoroughl y identified himself with the brethren of the province . Therefore , the province was most heartily to be congratulated in having Bro . Halsey as Provincial Grand Master , and he hoped he might long live to retain that position . Bro . HALSEY , in responding to the toast , which was most enthusiastically
received , said he thanked the brethren most cordially for their reception , and could only say in return that it had given him very great pleasure to be present to consecrate another lodge in his province , 'fhe Earl of Clarendon was the fourth new lodge that had come into existence in the province since he had the honour of becoming Provincial Grand Alaster . If they went on like that it was a proof that , although Herts was a small province , and might
not be able to compete with the large provinces of the manufacturing districts of the North of England , still that , as a country district Masonry was holding its own in it , and doing the work that it should do in the kingdom . Hc rejoiced most cordially that it should be so , but whilst acknowledging the kind expressions of the Grand Secretary , he must say that it was not due to his own merits so much as to the strong support he had received from the
Provincial Grand Officers under him , and especially to the Deputy Provincial Grand Master and the Provincial Grand Secretary . He did not think he should be doing his duty if he was to sit down without mentioning in terms of cordial acknowledgment the various services these brethren had rendered to the province , because he did not believe there was any Provincial Grand Master who had such a Deputy and such a Secretary , together , to assist
him . The whole of the credit for the work which had been done , which was given to him , was really due to those brethren . At the same time it gave him great pleasure to do what he did ; and he certainly did endeavour , as much as he could ( of course as family cares increased it became the more difficult ) , to perform his duties as Provincial Grand Master . It was the duty of a Provincial Grand Master , when he accepted the office , to make
himself personally acquainted , as far as he could , with the state of Masonry in his province , and go as often as he could among the brethren . That he had humbly endeavoured to do . He must congratulate the Earl of Clarendon Lodge more especially on the very successful commencement of its Masonic career ; but he would remind the brethren that their successful commencement , in itself , laid on them a great responsibility . It would be
for them , by their own exertions , to keep up the prestige of tho Craft which they had joined . He believed there was ample room for such a lodge , and he sincerely trusted it mig ht have a long career of usefulness and prosperity , and he thought it was the duty of every Provincial Grand Master to advise a young lodge in his province to look not so much to quantity as to quality . At the present moment Masonry held a high position in this country—he
did not think he should be wrong in saying a higher position than it had held at any past time ; but then it was the very pride of that position which involved certain drawbacks . Of course , to a certain extent , they knew that Masonry , at the present time , was in a greater degree of fashion , and when anything became a fashion there would always be a set of people who wished to be in the fashion . It might be quite right ; but it was the duty of every lodge to exercise the utmost circumspection in
recruiting and keeping up the numbers . Masons wished to exclude no one if he W £ ts in a respectable and reputable position in life , and would rellcct credit on Masonry . Wc all know the ups and downs of life . Those who were in the highest position to-day mig ht be in trouble to-morrow , and if a Mason who had been in good circumstances fell into want they were only too proud to extend to them brotherly relief . But at the same lime they were not a mere benefit society . They did not join Masonry as they could join a club
or other society , where if they subscribed so much in a certain time , they were entitled to so much . That was not the object with which a man ought to enter Masonry , for they ought to keep Masonry on a higher pedestal than that . For that reason , hc thought it was the duty of brethren , occupying a similar position to himself , when addressing a young lodge , to caution the brethren in quality to maintain their character , and not to think a lodge was prosperous because it had a large number of members . He felt it his duty , as their Provincial Grand Master
Consecration Of The Earl Of Clarendon Lodge, No. 1984.
at the opening- of a new lodge in his province , lo make that caution . He believed that it was unnecessary in this case , for he was certain that a lodge started under such auspices as thc Earl of Clarendon , and under the guidance of such an experienced brotheras Bro . Dr . Wilson Ilcs—to say nothing of other members of the lodge . He felt sure that this lodge would do its duty and become an ornament and credit to Masonry in geneVal , and Masonry in that province in particular . Before sitting down lie had to turn to a more
pleasing task , and ask the brethren to drink "The Health of the W . M . " It had given him great pleasure to propose the toast , because on every occasion the W . M . had in the most enthusiastic manner , and at the utmost inconvenience to himself , always supported him most loyally in the province ; and he could onl y say that it gave him the-very highest pleasure to be able on the present occasion , however inadequately and unworthily , to return a little of that support by coming to support him in the chair .
The W . M ., in reply , said he responded to the toast in a dual capacity . Following the footsteps of so distinguished a chief as Bro . Halsey , it would seem there was very little he could do without trenching on his prerogative . Nevertheless , he hoped in the course he had endeavoured to pursue he had not trenched on the prerogative , but had followed the course thc Provincial Grand Master would follow—as far as his own avocations would nermit . Hc
had followed the lod ges in the province and had reported their progress to the Prov Grand Master , and it had been gratifying for him to do so , " because on all occasions he had been received in those lodges with the greatest cordiality , and he had great pleasure in observing during the ycars ° hchad been in oflice thc great progress Masonic working had made in thc province . He could remember the time when the rilual . he would not •- •iv w . i < - imb » n
but it was very little known ; it was in the hands of very few , and thc ceremonies were worked b y a Past Master , or soma brother who was used to do it , and the W . M . stood on one side of the purpose . But now hc sawbrethren doing their duty as far as they possibly could , and succeeding in a most admirable manner , He did not care where they went throughout the country , but he did not believe they would find the ritual of Masonrv
better worked than in the Province of Herts . As W . M . of this ncw lodge , which had just been consecrated , he felt he had accepted a very responsible position . It was somewhat different when a lodge was established where Masonry had not previously existed , but when a new lodge was established where another lod ge had been going on in a most admirable manner for fifty years , it was a exeat resoonsibllilv to undertake
the working of a new lodge . But they had only to emulate the work that had been done in the mother lodge of that town and they could not do very far wrong . There were many brethren who could back him up in saying that the work of the lodge was very admirably carried on ; and it would be the endeavour of the Earl of Clarendon Lodge to emulate the working of that lodge , to raise it b y degrees to a similarly proud position in the province .
No efforts on his part would be wanting , and those brethren who were associated with him would sustain him cordially in that endeavour . He felt they could not be too careful in following the advice of the Provincial Grand Master as to the admission of members to the new lodge . It was not , as the Provincial Grand Master had so justly observed , so much quantity as quality that they must tro in for . The lodee was estnblishprl
to fill up a gap in that widel y increasing place , as far as Freemasonry was concerned , and he hoped they would do so worthil y ; but at the same time they should be careful in scrutinising the quality of those gentlemen or brethren who were proposed for initiation or joining , and they should not admit to their lodge those who they did not believe would be a credit to Masonry . The W . M . then thanked the brethren for coming in such large numbers to the consecration .
The W . M . next proposed "The Provincial Grand Officers , Present and Past , " and said it must be a great satisfaction to the founders of the lodge to see so many Provincial Grand Officers around them . They were exceedingly grateful for the presence of those oflicers , and hoped to see them frequently among them . The Provincial Grand Oflicers had in the past discharged important duties , and in their present position they were still doing good service j and , notably , he might mention the good service rendered that day by the Past Prov . Grand Chaplain , Bro . Thomoson . The
oration he delivered was worth y of the occasion ; worthy of him , and worthy also to be remembered b y those who heard him . He coupled with the toast the names of Bro . Cussans , Prov . S . G . W ., and Bro . the Rev . Oswell Thompson , Past Prov . Grand Chaplain . Bro . CUSSANS said he was proud of the oosition he held , .-ind Im l-nn »
the Grand Officers had the goodwill of the Prov . Grand Master . Although young as a Pro - .. Grand Officer , he was twenty-four years old as a Mason The Prov . Grand Officers were in a chrysalis state till they got Grand Office and when they became gaudy butterflies they had very little to do . It was not so with all the Prov . Grand Oflicers ; for instance , the Prov . Grand Treasurer and the Prov . Grand Secretary , who had very hard work to do The Grand VVardens had nothing to do except to thank the brethren very heartily for drinking this toast .
Bro . the Rev . OSWALD IHOMI -SOX , P . P . G . C , replying , said the Grand Senior Warden had made the remark with regard to their Grand Oflicers to which he ventured , in all humility , to take exception . When he spoke of the butterfly condition into which he developed when he put on the Provincial purple , perhaps it was truethat they put on gaudy colours , but if he likened that position to a position in which they did nothing , as in the chrysalis state hc
would nnd tnat they had a great deal to do , for they were all ready to produce any number of young Masons . He did not think anyone could have the slightest doubt about this now that thesecond lod ge was established at Walford 1 hey were still surrounded by Masonic emblems which reminded them of eternity and prosperity . The Clarendon Lodge had been opened with considerable eclat and he trusted it might go on and prosper . On the part of the Grand Officers , he trusted they mi ght have more than one occasion vet before
tney passed irom tins sublunary sphere in which they would be present at the consecration of a lodge in Herts . This was thesecond consecration in the province that he had attended . He had the honour of being ; the first Master of onc lodge , at which a great number of brethren were present ; but an immense number had been present at thc consecration of the Earl of Clarendon Lodge , and he trusted that all new lod ges consecrated in that province would have such good patronage .
lhe W . M . next proposed "The Visitors , " to which toast Bro . F Davison , P . M . io . and Bro . C . F . Matier , responded , and thc other toasts havin < r been honoured , the proceedings terminated . " The evening was enlivened with some beautiful singing by the music-il brethren named above . a a J The London brethren returned to town by the express train from Liverpool , which the General Manager of the London and North Western Railway had arranged to stop at Watford for that purpose .